Thai Airways International (Thai: การบินไทย) is the national air carrier of Thailand, operating out of Suvarnabhumi Airport, and is a founding member of the Star Alliance network. Like Singapore Airlines, Thai offers some of the longest non-stop commercial flights from Bangkok to New York and Los Angeles.

Thai started as Thai Airways International, a joint venture with Scandinavian Airlines System (which initially held a 30% share), along with a domestic carrier, Thai Airways Company (Thai: เดินอากาศไทย). The carrier's first flight was on May 1, 1960. On April 1, 1977, the Thai government bought out the remaining 15% of SAS-owned shares. On April 1, 1988, the two carriers merged to form the present Thai Airways International. In August 2005, Thai Airways International president Kanok Abhiradee was suspended from his managerial duties just before the airline reported a massive loss for its fiscal third quarter to June 30. Following the suspension, the airline appointed board member Somchainuk Engtrakul to oversee Kanok's major responsibilities. The airline has named a new president in April 2006. As most tourists to the country come from Europe, Thai has a limited presence in North America, where its flights are marketed by Lufthansa.

Thai Airways aircraft at Don Mueang International AirportThe arrival of the A340-500 coincided with a change to the airline's image, including a new livery and a revised font for the title "Thai". On May 1, 2005, the airline began a non-stop Bangkok-New York service (TG790/791) with a new A340-500. The New York bound flight time is 16 hours 55 minutes and Bangkok bound flight time is 17 hours 10 minutes. It flies over the North Pole, and departs at midnight (Bangkok time 0040 at summer).Non-stop Bangkok-Los Angeles service (TG794/795) started on December 2, 2005, also using a new A340-500. The flight time is 16.5 hours eastbound. This replaces TG774/775 (LAX-KIX-BKK & BKK-KIX-LAX) service using Boeing 747-400 aircraft and the stop at Kansai International Airport in Osaka.

In February 2006, the airline announced it was studying the startup of a new airline, to be called Thai Orchid (Thai: เอื้องหลวง), which would market itself as a luxury alternative to the low-cost carriers, such as subsidiary Nok Air (Thai: นกแอร์). In June 2006 Thai International Airlines was awarded 'Worlds Best Cabin Staff' by Skytrax. Thai Airways International will be operating three weekly direct flights on the route Bangkok – Johannesburg v.v., utilizing A340-600 aircraft from October 2006. Thai Airways Boeing 747-400 taking offOn September 28, 2006 at 1:45am, flight TG 662 to Shanghai was the last Thai Airways departure from Don Mueang. At 4:45am, TG 613 from Delhi was Thai Airways' first official arrival at Suvarnabhumi.