LOT Polish Airlines (LOT), the flag carrier of Poland, is set to resume direct flights between Warsaw and Bangkok after a 17-year hiatus, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith says.
Mr Arkhom said LOT executives had met him for talks and expressed interest in resuming flights between Warsaw and Bangkok as the airline plans to bring in a growing number of "quality tourists" to Thailand as quickly as possible.
He said Thailand reached an aviation agreement with Poland in 1975 and LOT Polish Airlines began its first flight to Thailand in 1997 before cancelling the service in 2000.
Mr Arkhom said it was agreed at the meeting that the Polish flag carrier will resume services later this year.
Under its original agreement with Thailand, the airline was allowed to operate three flights per week, though the airline has asked to temporarily operate seven direct weekly flights to Bangkok or one flight per day for this year's winter flight schedule, Mr Arkhom said.
He added the airline is also looking to expand its code-sharing partnership with other airlines to operate seven weekly flights in the next winter flight schedule in 2018 as well, Mr Arkhom said.
Mr Arkhom said the airline's executives wanted to resume direct flights to Thailand because they believe Bangkok is full of attractive tourist locations and is a regional aviation hub connecting to other countries in Asean.