Thai Airways welcomes first A321neo including with HBCplus IFC

In a key milestone for Thai Airways’ fleet modernization effort, the carrier recently welcomed its first Airbus A321neo at its Suvarnabhumi Airport hub in Bangkok.

The twinjet, registered HS-TOA and named “Boworrangsee,” is kitted out with Thompson Aero Seating’s Vantage seats in Royal Silk business class, Recaro’s R3 seats in economy class, Safran Passenger Innovations’ RAVE Ultra 4K IFE from nose to tail and Airbus’ linefit, supplier furnished multi-orbit HBCplus inflight connectivity solution.

Images shared by Thai Airways of the new A321neo highlight a carefully considered interior; the CMF (color, materials and finish) is resplendent in both cabin classes.

Up front, sixteen Vantage lie-flats are configured in alternating pairs and thrones. Airbus’ Airspace mood lighting scheme nicely accents the pop of purple adorning each seat cover and the furniture.

Down back, the Recaro R3 seats feature six-way adjustable headrests, customized dress covers and a stitching pattern inspired by elements of the Thai Airways logo.

The images shared by Thai Airways also reveal the telltale antenna hump atop the fuselage, suggesting that onboard Wi-Fi will be offered to passengers.

During last year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Thai announced plans to equip a dozen new A321neos with the Ka-band IFC system, selecting SES’s multi-orbit MEO/GEO satcom service from Airbus’ HBCplus Ka-band managed service provider (MSP) catalogue. Neo Space Group (NSG), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), is acting as aero ISP to Thai Airways for the A321neos (and its Skywaves solution is earmarked for other Thai Airways aircraft, including linefit 787s and retrofit 777s.)

This newly-delivered narrowbody is the first of ten A321neos that have been ordered by aircraft lessor AerCap Holdings and are destined for Thai Airways, though the airline is in line to take more of the type beyond this initial 10-strong tranche.

In statements posted on social media, Thai Airways said it plans to press the aircraft into revenue service on 22 January 2026 on the trunk Bangkok-Singapore-Bangkok route, and that flights to Phuket and New Delhi are also on the slate.

On 23 December, Thai Airways CEO Chai Eamsiri and AerCap CEO Aengus Kelly celebrated the arrival of the jet. Kelly noted that AerCap’s relationship with the carrier began in the mid-1990s with the lease of Airbus A330-300s and Boeing 737-400s. “Since then, we have supported their evolution through periods of transformation, and today we celebrate a revitalized, financially robust airline.”