The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has marked the launch of Air France’s inaugural direct flight from Paris to Phuket. The service, operating under TAT’s Airline Focus strategy, is intended to increase long‑haul visitor numbers from France and to attract high‑value travellers.
The welcome ceremony was attended by H.E. Jean‑Claude Poimboeuf, Ambassador of France to Thailand; Ms Suladda Sarutilavan, Director of TAT’s Europe Region; Mrs Femke Kroese, General Manager for Southeast Asia and Oceania at Air France; and representatives from the public and private tourism sectors in Phuket.
Ms Sarutilavan highlighted that France remains one of Thailand’s most resilient long‑haul markets, characterised by strong repeat visitation and a growing share of luxury travellers. The new Paris–Phuket connection is expected to sustain market momentum and provide better access to Thailand’s premium tourism products, including wellness, yachting and premium beach experiences.
Mrs Kroese noted that Phuket will become Air France’s second Thai gateway for the winter season, complementing its existing service to Bangkok. The airline will operate the route three times a week with Boeing 777‑200 aircraft (328 seats) until late March 2026, alongside two daily year‑round flights to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
To raise awareness of the route, TAT and Air France will run the “Air France Digital Campaign – Inspirational Gold Package” across the airline’s digital platforms.
From 1 January to 30 November 2025, Thailand received 727,578 French visitors, a 2.46 % increase compared with the previous year. The average spend per French trip was 58,611 Baht and the average length of stay was 17.22 days, with Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Surat Thani being the most visited destinations. The target for the end of 2025 is 846,000 French arrivals.
Source: www.tatnews.org
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