Asia Atlantic Airlines

Asia Atlantic Airlines was a Thai charter airline headquartered in Bangkok. It was created as a joint venture between the Japanese travel agency H.I.S. and the Thai hotel and tourism company Baiyoke Group. The airline was intended to connect Thailand with Japanese and other international leisure markets, using Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and Tokyo Narita International Airport as its principal operating hubs. The carrier began commercial operations in 2013. Its first reported maiden flight departed Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport for Tokyo's Narita International Airport on 19 August 2013. Rather than positioning itself primarily as a conventional scheduled network airline, Asia Atlantic Airlines operated in the charter and leisure-travel segment. Its business was closely related to tourism flows, travel-package demand, and the distribution capabilities of its H.I.S. shareholder. The airline's fleet was based on Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. Available fleet information from August 2016 identifies two aircraft, each configured for both business-class and economy-class passengers. One aircraft had 252 seats, comprising 12 business-class and 240 economy-class seats, while the other had 261 seats, comprising 18 business-class and 243 economy-class seats. These aircraft provided a relatively large-capacity platform for medium- and long-haul leisure services. Asia Atlantic Airlines' corporate office was located on the 11th floor of the Times Square Building in Bangkok's Khlong Toei District. Its operating model linked a Thai airline platform with the international sales and travel-agency network of H.I.S., while the Baiyoke Group supplied a local tourism and hospitality connection. The airline therefore occupied a position at the intersection of air transport, package travel, and inbound and outbound tourism. The original airline ceased operations on 30 October 2018. The brand later reappeared in a relaunch effort: in April 2024, Asia Atlantic Airlines rebranded as AirThailand. That effort did not result in a continuing operating airline. On 20 February 2026, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand removed the carrier from its list of Air Operator Certificate holders, effectively ending plans to relaunch the business. On the available record, Asia Atlantic Airlines is therefore best treated as a defunct Thai airline brand rather than an active passenger carrier.

Asia Atlantic Airlines was established in Thailand as a joint venture between Japan's H.I.S. travel agency and the Thai Baiyoke Group. The partnership combined an international travel-distribution business with local hotel and tourism interests. The resulting airline was designed primarily for charter and leisure operations, serving tourism-related demand rather than building a broad conventional scheduled network. The carrier's first reported commercial flight took place on 19 August 2013, departing Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport for Tokyo's Narita International Airport. Bangkok and Tokyo served as the airline's principal hubs. This operating structure reflected the importance of Thailand–Japan tourism traffic and the role of H.I.S. in arranging and selling travel products. Asia Atlantic Airlines operated Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, a type suited to relatively high-capacity international leisure routes. Fleet information recorded in August 2016 listed two aircraft. Their cabins combined business and economy seating, with capacities of 252 and 261 passengers respectively. The airline maintained its head office in the Times Square Building in Bangkok's Khlong Toei District. Its brand and operations were connected to the wider tourism ecosystem through its shareholders and its charter-oriented business model. The available reference record does not establish a long-term expansion program, a comprehensive scheduled route network, or a continuing fleet beyond the aircraft information documented for 2016. Asia Atlantic Airlines ceased operations on 30 October 2018. Several years later, the brand was associated with a proposed return to the Thai aviation market. In April 2024, it rebranded as AirThailand. The rebranding indicated an attempt to revive the carrier under a new market identity, but the relaunch did not become an enduring operating business. On 20 February 2026, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand removed the carrier from its list of Air Operator Certificate holders. That regulatory action effectively ended the relaunch plan. Accordingly, the historical Asia Atlantic Airlines operation belongs to the period beginning in 2013 and ending in 2018, while the later AirThailand initiative should be understood as an unsuccessful revival attempt rather than evidence that the original airline remains active.

• 2026

  Removal from Thailand's AOC-holder list

  [1]Asia Atlantic Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand removed the carrier from its list of Air Operator Certificate holders on 20 February 2026, ending the proposed revival.

• 2024

  Rebranding as AirThailand

  [1]Asia Atlantic Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Asia Atlantic Airlines rebranded as AirThailand in April 2024 in an attempt to support a relaunch.

• 2018

  Operations end

  [1]Asia Atlantic Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  The airline ceased operations on 30 October 2018.

• 2016

  Two-aircraft fleet documented

  [1]Asia Atlantic Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Fleet information for August 2016 recorded two Boeing 767-300ER aircraft with mixed business-class and economy-class cabins.

• 2013

  Commercial launch

  [1]Asia Atlantic Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Asia Atlantic Airlines operated its maiden flight from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to Tokyo Narita International Airport on 19 August 2013.

A tourism-focused Thai charter airline linking the travel distribution capabilities of H.I.S. with the Thai hospitality and tourism sector.

• Air transport · 2013

  International charter passenger services

  Asia Atlantic Airlines focused on charter and leisure-oriented passenger flying. Its service model was connected to tourism demand and the travel-package activities of H.I.S., rather than being documented as a large independent scheduled network. The airline used Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and Tokyo Narita International Airport as operating hubs and provided international capacity for travelers moving between Thailand, Japan, and related leisure markets.

• Aircraft-based service

  Boeing 767-300ER passenger operations

  The airline's fleet consisted of Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. Fleet information from August 2016 identified two aircraft with mixed-cabin configurations. One aircraft carried 252 passengers, including 12 business-class and 240 economy seats; the other carried 261 passengers, including 18 business-class and 243 economy seats. The aircraft provided the capacity used for the carrier's international charter operations.

• 2026

  Regulatory removal from AOC-holder listOther

  Background

  The proposed AirThailand revival required the carrier to remain recognized as an Air Operator Certificate holder by Thailand's civil aviation regulator.

  Action taken

  The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand removed the carrier from its list of Air Operator Certificate holders on 20 February 2026.

  Aftermath

  The regulatory action effectively ended plans to relaunch the airline.

  Source

• 2024

  Rebrand and proposed airline revivalStrategy

  Background

  Following the cessation of Asia Atlantic Airlines' original operations in 2018, the brand was brought back into a proposed relaunch effort.

  Action taken

  The airline rebranded as AirThailand in April 2024.

  Aftermath

  The proposed relaunch was later effectively terminated when Thailand's aviation regulator removed the carrier from its AOC-holder list in February 2026.

  Source

• 2026

  Thai aviation regulator removes carrier from AOC-holder list[1]Asia Atlantic Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  On 20 February 2026, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand removed the carrier from its list of Air Operator Certificate holders, effectively terminating plans for a relaunch.

• 2024

  Asia Atlantic Airlines rebrands as AirThailand[1]Asia Atlantic Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The airline rebranded as AirThailand in April 2024 as part of an attempted relaunch.

• 2018

  Asia Atlantic Airlines ceases operations[1]Asia Atlantic Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Thai charter carrier ceased operations on 30 October 2018.

• 2013

  Asia Atlantic Airlines begins operations with Bangkok–Tokyo service[1]Asia Atlantic Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Asia Atlantic Airlines launched commercial operations with a maiden flight from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to Tokyo Narita International Airport on 19 August 2013.

1. 1Asia Atlantic Airlinesen.wikipedia.org