KOCHI— Air India Express (IX) will suspend its non-stop Amritsar (ATQ) to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) route effective August 2025, marking another setback for Southeast Asia connectivity from the northern Indian city. Flight bookings for this route have already been closed beyond July 30, 2025.
The move comes just months after Batik Air Malaysia (OD) exited the Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Amritsar (ATQ) sector, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of direct Southeast Asia services from Amritsar.
Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh TekriwalAir India Express Ends Amritsar-Bangkok Flight
Despite initial optimism, the Amritsar–Bangkok route has persistently underperformed. Several structural challenges—including a high sensitivity to fare pricing, minimal premium or business travel, and weak onward connectivity—have prevented the route from achieving profitability, Ravreet Singh reported in his LinkedIn post.
Between January and May 2025, Air India Express transported 16,993 passengers on the route, translating to a passenger load factor (PLF) of just 67.27%. This figure falls short of the typical international break-even PLF, which usually hovers above 75–80% depending on cost structure and yield management.
Thai Lion Air (SL), which operates four weekly services from Amritsar to Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK), has also reported lackluster performance.
From November 2024 to May 2025, the airline flew 26,775 passengers on this route with a PLF of 63.09%, despite a temporary boost in March and April likely due to group and seasonal travel.
These figures point to unstable demand trends driven mainly by leisure travelers, group bookings, and fluctuating tour operator schedules—elements that do not offer consistent, year-round traffic necessary for route sustainability.
Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh TekriwalCompetitive Fares Couldn’t Offset Low Yield
Even with competitive fares, the route struggled to draw sustained traffic. Return fares on Amritsar–Bangkok flights averaged around US$170–220, indicating low yields that are insufficient to cover the cost of international operations, especially with low PLF levels.
The absence of strong business or connecting traffic—two major contributors to airline profitability—further exacerbated the route’s weak economics.
Moreover, with no hub connectivity at either end, the service relied solely on point-to-point (P2P) demand, which has proven inadequate.
Photo: Airports Authority of India (AAI)Airline’s Strategy Reflects Market Realities
Air India Express’ decision comes after internal discussions, including insights shared during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) held in Dubai in April 2025.
Concerns regarding the route’s viability were raised based on performance data and market behavior.
The airline will, however, continue serving Bangkok from Pune (PNQ), Surat (STV), and Lucknow (LKO)—cities that offer better traffic balance, diverse travel profiles, and less saturation from competitors.
These routes are considered commercially viable due to stronger diaspora links, business traffic, and more stable year-round demand.
Batik Air Airbus A320 at Juanda International Airport | Wikimedia CommonsBottom Line
The back-to-back withdrawal of Air India Express and Batik Air Malaysia from their respective Southeast Asia routes signals a wider issue.
Amritsar’s direct international links to Southeast Asia have been repeatedly challenged by volatile passenger flows, heavy dependence on tourist peaks, and minimal premium traffic.
This scenario emphasizes that simply adding flight capacity does not ensure success. Airlines must factor in holistic strategies, including hub connectivity, demand diversification, seasonal planning, and network synergies. Without these elements, even well-priced routes are unlikely to succeed long-term.
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