KUCHING, June 15 — Direct Kuching-Bangkok flights have moved a step closer to reality after Thai aviation authorities allocated AirBorneo airport slots for services between the Sarawak capital and Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport during the Winter 2026/2027 scheduling season.

According to a report by Thailand’s The Nation, AirBorneo was among four new airlines allocated airport slots during the 158th International Air Transport Association (IATA) Slot Conference in Bangkok.

The conference, held from June 9-11, coordinated and managed airport slot allocations for the Winter 2026/2027 schedule, with operations set to run from October 25, 2026 to March 27, 2027.

The report said the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) had disclosed the outcome of talks on revised flight schedules, additional flights, and new routes to Thailand, with AirBorneo allocated slots to operate 14 flights per week on the Kuching-Suvarnabhumi-Kuching route.

AirBorneo was listed alongside Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air, United Kingdom’s Virgin Atlantic, and Moldova’s SkyUp Nistru, which also received slot allocations for services into Thailand.

The report noted that a total of 87 airlines held discussions with CAAT seeking to operate services for this tourism high season, covering both passenger and cargo flights from several regions around the world.

CAAT also identified Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Samui, and U-Tapao airports among those experiencing strong travel demand ahead of the upcoming high tourism season.

The allocation marks the latest development in AirBorneo’s plans to establish regional connections from Kuching.

Earlier this year, Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the airline could expand to regional destinations including Thailand from 2027, subject to operational readiness.

The Borneo Post has contacted AirBorneo on the development and its plans for the proposed Kuching-Bangkok service. — The Borneo Post