Thai Airways International, THAI, is the flag carrier of Thailand and one of Southeast Asia's oldest full-service airlines.Its cargo brand THAI Cargo is based at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airportand uses passenger belly capacity plus charters to move temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals, fresh fruit, live animals, dangerous goods and valuables worldwide. For Chinese exporters it isa mature corridor linking China with Thailand and, through Bangkok, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Australia, with routes from Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Kunming, Chengdu, Xiamen and Hong Kong.
IATA code TG · air waybill prefix 217 · main hub Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) · all cargo in passenger bellies plus cargo charters
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited was founded in 1960, is headquartered in Bangkok and operates from its main hub at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK).It is the flag carrier of Thailand and a Star Alliance founding member. THAI entered debt restructuring in 2020 and restarted in 2021 with a leaner fleet and network; in 2026 the fleet is about 80 aircraft, built around the Airbus A350-900, Boeing 787 family and Boeing 777 family.
Cargo is carried under the THAI Cargo brand, which is central to understanding the airline's value.Unlike airlines that treat cargo as a by-product, THAI operates at Suvarnabhumione of Thailand's largest airline-owned cargo terminals, inside the airport Customs Free Zone, where import cargo can transit, distribute and be stored under bond, greatly speeding cargo movement in Bangkok. THAI Cargo also has a station at Chiang Mai airport.
For cargo, THAI's most valuable asset is the location of the Suvarnabhumi hub.Bangkok sits at the center of Southeast Asia, with 6–7 hours' flying time covering China, India, Southeast Asia and most of the Middle East, a natural transfer point between China and Southeast Asia, South Asia, Australia and Europe. Cargo from South and Southwest China connects smoothly at Bangkok to the THAI network for Colombo, Dhaka, Yangon, Jakarta, Melbourne, London, Frankfurt and other destinations, which is the value of routing through Bangkok.
On the cargo fleet: THAI currently operates no freighters of its own.Cargo moves in two ways: first,Passenger aircraft belly capacitywith considerable belly volume on A350, B777 and B787 widebodies, and second,Cargo charterthrough charters, since THAI regularly flies whole-aircraft cargo charters with A350 and B777-300ER aircraft, for example fruit charters from Thailand to Guangzhou, Chengdu and Kunming, and relief supplies from China to Bangkok. In practice THAI cargo is a flexible capacity model: steady belly supply day to day, and charters in peak season or for large volumes.
Its value can be summed up simply: THAI is the smoothest side of the China-Thailand-world triangle.It may not be the largest carrier on every route, but the Suvarnabhumi hub, a mature cold chain and dangerous goods system, and steady widebody belly capacity make it a main choice for shippers in South and Southwest China sending to Thailand or transiting the country.
THAI isthe main air corridor between China and Thailand, and a transfer carrier reaching Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Australia through Bangkok. The product line is complete: temperature control, pharmaceuticals, perishables, live animals, dangerous goods and valuables are all accepted.
① ItNo freighters, but steady widebody belly capacity and regular cargo charters, with charters available for large volumes.
② Bangkok Suvarnabhumi is its lifeblood, with an own cargo terminal in the customs free zone making transfers fast and smooth.
③ Cold chain is its signature: TG Temp temperature control, pharmaceutical cold chain and fruit charters are established public business.
| Item | Content | Item | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese name | Thai Airways International (THAI) | English name | Thai Airways International Public Company Limited |
| Country | Thailand, Southeast Asia | Head office location | Bangkok, Thailand |
| Main operating hub | Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK / ICAO: VTBS); Chiang Mai is a secondary station | IATA two-letter code | TG |
| ICAO three-letter code | THA (call sign THAI) | Founded | 1960 |
| Air waybill (AWB) prefix | 217 (full air waybill 217-XXXXXXXX, 11 digits) | Company type | Thailand's flag carrier and a Star Alliance founding member |
| Active fleet | About 80 aircraft (A350-900, B787-8/9, B777-200ER/300ER and others, 2026 figure) | Cargo brand | THAI Cargo (Suvarnabhumi and Chiang Mai cargo terminals) |
| Cargo fleet | No own freighters; passenger belly capacity plus cargo charters (A350 / B777-300ER) | Official website | www.thaiairways.com · cargo www.thaicargo.com |
Active and passive temperature-controlled containers and temperature-controlled storage for sensitive cargo, covering the +2°C to +8°C pharmaceutical cold chain and frozen cargo at -18°C and below. Thai perishable and pharmaceutical exports and China-bound cold chain cargo both use this system.
A dedicated cold chain service for vaccines, biologics and medicines, with complete temperature records and traceable handover. THAI flew a Beijing to Bangkok charter during COVID vaccine transport, delivering 15.5 tonnes of vaccine to the Suvarnabhumi free zone cargo terminal.
Thai fruit exports to China, including durian, mangosteen and longan, are an important source of THAI cargo, and in peak season A350 and B777 aircraft fly fruit charters to Guangzhou, Chengdu and Kunming; the return direction carries Chinese fruit and cut flowers into Thailand.
Live animals are carried, including ornamental fish, pets and breeding livestock, with containers and capacity arranged under the IATA Live Animals Regulations; Bangkok is also an important Southeast Asian transfer point for live animals.
Dangerous goods approval covers common classes, and lithium batteries, chemicals and similar goods declared under the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations are accepted. Accepted classes depend on the carrier's current permits and station capability.
Valuables and urgent shipments have dedicated handover and security procedures; the free zone facilities at the Suvarnabhumi cargo terminal support separate storage and escorted handover for valuables.
Schedules are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking and change with the season.
| Departure gateway | Flight type | Frequency (public source reference) | Main aircraft type | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing (PEK) | Passenger belly / charter | 1 flight daily (TG675 and others) | Boeing 777-300ER | Has flown temperature-controlled charters such as vaccines |
| Shanghai (PVG) | Passenger aircraft belly capacity | 1-2 flights daily (TG663/TG664 and others) | Boeing 777-300ER / A350-900 | Main East China gateway with mature cargo connections |
| Guangzhou (CAN) | Passenger belly capacity plus fruit charters | Several flights a week (TG668 and others) plus peak season charters | A350-900 / Boeing 777 | One of the main destinations for Thai fruit charters to China |
| Kunming (KMG) | Passenger belly capacity plus fruit charters | Several flights a week plus peak-season charters | A350-900 / Boeing 777 | Southwest gateway, short high-frequency link to Bangkok |
| Chengdu (CTU) | Passenger belly capacity plus fruit charters | Several flights a week plus peak-season charters | A350-900 / Boeing 777 | Southwest hub, common for perishables and e-commerce cargo |
| Xiamen (XMN) | Passenger aircraft belly capacity | Several flights per week | Boeing 777 / A350-900 | Fujian gateway to Southeast Asia via Bangkok |
| Hong Kong, China (HKG) | Passenger aircraft belly capacity | 1 flight daily (TG606 and others) | Boeing 777-300ER | Key node in the Asia-Pacific transfer network |
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi is one of the busiest hubs in Southeast Asia,and THAI's own cargo terminal inside the free zone turns a transfer into a fast in-and-out operation, with no need to clear cargo into Thailand before re-export.
For cargo toSri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, southern India, the Middle East and Australia, a Bangkok transfer is often smoother than a nonstop, with dense schedules, steady capacity and a mature cold chain and dangerous goods system.
Airbus A350-900: the most numerous widebody in the fleet, about 23 aircraft.It is the main type on short, medium and long-haul routes and very common on routes to South and Southwest China. The A350 belly takes LD3 containers and pallets,with a forward cargo door about 1.72 m high and an aft door about 1.58 m high, so pallets and containers load more easily than on a narrowbody. For shippers the A350 means small and medium lots both work, making it the most versatile capacity in the THAI cargo offer.
Boeing 787-8 / 787-9: an expanding Dreamliner family.THAI took delivery of new 787s through 2025-2026 and plans to keep expanding. The 787 is in the A350 class, with belly space that also takes ULDs, low fuel burn and long range, deployed mainly on long and medium-long haul routes. Adding 787s meansTHAI belly capacity is still growing.
Boeing 777-200ER / 777-300ER: intercontinental mainstay.The 777-300ER belly is one of the roomier widebody holds, in the 200+ cubic metre class, and is common on intercontinental routes from Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. THAI flew a Beijing to Bangkok vaccine charter with a B777-300ER during the pandemic, showing the type can be converted for whole-aircraft cargo and temporary all-cargo operation.
Narrowbodies and cargo:THAI also has a small number of narrowbodies for domestic and short international routes, but its cargo workhorse is the widebody belly.THAI cargo is built on flexible widebody belly plus charter capacity, with steady supply from several widebody flights a day and whole-aircraft charters in peak season or for large volumes.
① ULD loading: A350, 787 and 777 aircraft all take LD3 containers and pallets, with standard handover and low damage rates.
② Substantial volume: a widebody belly holds about 100–200 cubic metres, carrying 10–20 tonnes in one flight on a per-flight basis.
③ Cold chain positions: some widebody types have temperature-controlled belly zones supporting pharmaceutical cold chain.
| Aircraft type | Fleet size | Cabin layout | Belly loading method | Role in THAI cargo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A350-900 | About 23 aircraft | Two class (Royal Business plus economy) | ULD containers / pallets | Main type on short, medium and long-haul routes, common on China routes |
| Boeing 787-8 / 787-9 | More than 10 and growing | Two-class layout | ULD containers / pallets | Long and medium-long haul routes, capacity still growing |
| Boeing 777-300ER | Multiple aircraft | Three-class/two-class layout | ULD, large belly volume | Intercontinental mainstay, can fly whole-aircraft cargo charters |
| Boeing 777-200ER | A small number in service | Two-class layout | ULD | Supplementary long-haul capacity |
| Dedicated freighter | 0 aircraft | — | — | Cargo relies on widebody belly plus cargo charters |
| Cargo types | Fit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| E-commerce parcels, express and samples | Suitable for | Dense schedules and flexible belly space; the main corridor for China-Thailand and Southeast Asian e-commerce |
| Perishables, fruit, cut flowers | Suitable for | Mature temperature control and fast clearance, with charters in peak season |
| Medicines, vaccines, biologics | Suitable (subject to confirmation) | TG Pharma Pro system, but the temperature-controlled routing and capacity need per-shipment confirmation |
| Lithium batteries, chemicals and other dangerous goods | Subject to class confirmation | THAI holds DGR approval, with classes approved per shipment against current permits and station capability |
| Full-pallet bulk cargo, out-of-gauge equipment | Depends on volume | If it fits the belly, it flies; otherwise a charter or a sea-air combination |
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi sits at the center of Southeast Asia,reaching South and Southwest China in 4–6 hours, and from Bangkok cargo radiates to South Asia, the Middle East, Australia and Europe with many connection options and dense schedules.
A350, 787 and 777 bellies take ULDs,with 10 tonnes per flight being normalon a per-flight basis, several orders of magnitude more choice than narrowbody operators.
TG Temp and TG Pharma Pro areestablished public product lines, so vaccines, medicines and perishables exported from China to Thailand or transiting Thailand follow existing temperature-controlled procedures.
Large volumes or special cargo such as fruit, vaccines and live animals can goon a whole-aircraft charter at short notice, since A350 and B777-300ER aircraft can both take cargo work, so peak season need not mean no capacity.
The own cargo terminal inside the Suvarnabhumi customs free zone handlesimport, export and transit in one place, cutting clearance steps and giving transit cargo movement that leads Southeast Asia.
As a Star Alliance founding member,THAI can code-share and interline with members such as Air China and Shenzhen Airlines, so cargo from second and third-tier Chinese cities can reach Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu or Guangzhou on the Air China network and connect to THAI on one interline waybill.
Official note: Thai Airways International Public Company Limited has no single customer service center in mainland China and no 400 hotline.Office contacts are published by city. Publicly available details include the Beijing office for ticketing and reservations and the Shanghai office at Room 2302, 23rd floor, Chuangxing Financial Center, 288 Nanjing West Road, Shanghai, telephone +86 21 3366 4000, email reservation.sha@thaiairways.com.cn, with 24-hour service. Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu and Xiamen also have offices or ticketing agency networks.
It has to be said plainly: those contacts serve ticketing and customer service, and cargo business generally does not go through them.Capacity sales and handling for THAI Cargo at Chinese gateways work in practice throughcooperation between freight forwarders and the THAI Cargo sales team. Chinese exporters who call an office to ask about booking are usually directed back to agents. That is precisely why a forwarder exists: the customer does not have to switch between a ticketing counter and the cargo system.
Cargo enquiries and capacity requests are available through the cargo section of the airline website at www.thaicargo.com and through global GDS systems;specific handling at Chinese gateways is agreed by Goodhope Freight directly with THAI Cargo sales at booking, including capacity confirmation, waybill structure on the 217 prefix, and per-shipment approval for dangerous goods and temperature-controlled cargo.
Address: Room 2302, 23rd floor, Chuangxing Financial Center, 288 Nanjing West Road, Shanghai
Telephone: +86 21 3366 4000 (24 hours)
Email reservation.sha@thaiairways.com.cn · mainly for ticketing and customer service
Offices or ticketing networks in Beijing, Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu and Xiamen
Public note: no single customer service center in mainland China and no 400 hotline
Cargo enquiries and capacity requests: www.thaicargo.com
China gateway handling: agreed with THAI Cargo sales by Goodhope Freight at booking
Air waybill prefix 217 · 11-digit waybill number
Send the destination city, weight and dimensions, cargo type and target departure date; we quote against the capacity available that day
Check commodity compliance, with lithium batteries, dangerous goods and temperature control approved per shipment, confirmed in writing on both sides
Apply to THAI Cargo sales for capacity, or assess a charter
Issue the 217-prefix air waybill, export declaration and flight documents
Deliver at the gateway, declare, warehouse and load, with tracking through to Bangkok and beyond
Destination clearance coordination and delivery confirmation, with temperature tracking throughout for temperature-controlled cargo
Declaration and packing requirements may differ on the China leg and the Bangkok legfor dangerous goods, especially lithium battery cargo, so confirm compliance for the whole journey at booking rather than fixing paperwork after arrival in Bangkok.
Pharmaceutical cold chain is not only about temperature control on board,since refrigerated storage and handover records at origin, at the Bangkok transfer and at destination must be complete. The THAI system is mature, but an agent must watch the timing at each stage.
In the Thai fruit season for durian and mangosteen, capacity toward Bangkok tightensand needs early locking or a charter assessment. The reverse direction, Chinese fruit into Thailand, also has high and low seasons, so ask about the season before quoting.
Thai import clearance requiresa commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin where applicable and importer registration details, with licences for some commodities. Cargo transiting the free zone follows a different flow, sinceimport and re-export are two separate processes, so confirm the trade term first.
The THAI system is mature, but a mature system has its complications:many counters, many processes and many interfaces, since ticketing, cargo, dangerous goods and cold chain each have their own door. The value of an agent is that the customer faces only one.
A competent Thailand agent does four things for the customer:
The THAI cargo terminal sits inside thecustoms free zone at Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is what sets it apart from most carriers. Import, export and transit cargo can be handled in one place under bond without clearing before export, cutting transfer time sharply.For cargo moving China to Bangkok to a third country, these facilities mean faster connections and more controllable transit times.
In June 2021 THAI flew a Beijing to Bangkok vaccine charter with a B777-300ER, delivering 15.5 tonnes of COVID vaccine to the Suvarnabhumi free zone cargo terminal with support from the Chinese embassy in Thailand. The record shows that THAI's pharmaceutical cold chain has handled a national-level transport task. Vaccines, medicines and biologics exported from China to Thailand or transiting the country today follow that proven process.
THAI Cargo once flew 39 fruit charters in a single month, carrying Thai fruit to Guangzhou, Chengdu, Kunming and other Chinese cities. Durian, mangosteen and longan, all highly perishable,depend on THAI widebody charters and mature temperature-controlled handover. The corridor works in reverse too: Chinese fruit and cut flowers into Thailand and Southeast Asia can reuse the same cold chain resources.
The THAI brand line, smooth as silk, matches its definition of service:a smooth hub with free zone transfers, a smooth cold chain with temperature control throughout, and smooth documents through the 217 waybill system and electronic tracking. For shippers who value certainty, the practical result is fewer exceptions.
Does THAI operate routes to China, and what are the schedules?
Yes. THAI is one of the foreign carriers with the most points in China, covering Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu, Xiamen and Hong Kong. Public sources indicate one or more flights daily from Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, several flights a week from Guangzhou, Kunming and Chengdu, and extra fruit charters in peak season. Schedules are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
What payload and dimensional limits apply on THAI?
No own freighters. Cargo moves in widebody passenger bellies on A350, 787 and 777 aircraft plus cargo charters using A350 and B777-300ER aircraft in whole-aircraft configuration. A widebody belly takes about 10 tonnes per flight on a per-flight basis, and large volumes can be assessed for a whole-aircraft charter.
What are the air waybill prefix and carrier codes for THAI?
217. THAI waybill numbers have 11 digits, in the form 217-XXXXXXXX. IATA two-letter code TG, ICAO three-letter code THA, call sign THAI. The three codes and the 217 prefix appear together on cargo documents, and missing any one can cause rejection.
What is the transit time from China to Bangkok?
About 3.5–5 hours nonstop, depending on gateway. Including delivery at the gateway, loading and Bangkok clearance, delivery in Bangkok usually completes 1–3 days after handover in China; transit to a third country adds 1–2 days depending on connections. These are reference ranges, not commitments.
Can lithium batteries and dangerous goods move on THAI?
THAI holds dangerous goods approval under DGR, and lithium batteries and similar goods can move when declared under IATA rules. Holding approval does not mean every station accepts them on every flight, so classes, packing and declaration requirements must be confirmed with the carrier per shipment; Goodhope Freight settles this once at booking and gives no verbal assurances.
Can THAI carry temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals and fresh fruit?
Yes, and this is THAI Cargo's signature capability. TG Temp and TG Pharma Pro are established public product lines, and fruit charters have a track record. Temperature-controlled cargo needs temperature records and handover confirmation throughout, so state the requirement clearly at booking and Goodhope Freight designs the connections around the route.
Is a Bangkok transfer reliable for cargo going beyond Thailand?
Yes, and that is where the hub value lies. The free zone cargo terminal at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi handles import, export and transit in one place, so cargo from China can connect smoothly at Bangkok to the THAI network for South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Australia. Connection time is designed around schedules, and Goodhope Freight provides the full routing and transit range at booking.
How is a THAI booking made?
THAI China offices mainly serve ticketing, and public notes confirm there is no single customer service center or 400 hotline; cargo bookings run through freight forwarders dealing with THAI Cargo sales. Send destination city, commodity, piece weight and dimensions and time requirement to Goodhope Freight, which handles the booking and tracks the shipment throughout.
Direct and connecting service from Chinese gateways to Bangkok and on to Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Australia, belly and charter options and cold chain connections are all verified item by item by a specialist forwarder before confirmation.
Contact us for an air cargo planFrom China · international air freight forwarder · (an independent forwarder, not a branch or representative office of Thai Airways International)