History hasn’t been kind to budget airlines attempting non-stop flights between Thailand’s capital Bangkok and London in the UK. Norwegian gave it a shot and failed… Scoot followed, only to pull the plug. Now, Norse Atlantic Airways is stepping up to the plate, hoping to break the curse and make low-cost long-haul work on this route.
The good news is this adds a competitive travel option for our readers to or from Europe, provided you don’t mind the short hop to Bangkok first, with one-way fares from just US$260 in Economy Class and US$630 in what we must say is a pretty solid-looking Premium Economy product.
With a daytime service in the Bangkok – London direction, could this latest route be a smart budget-friendly option for travel to Europe?
The schedule
Here’s how the schedule looks on this new route, which commences from the start of the northern winter season in late October 2025.
Norse Atlantic
Bangkok ⇄ London
From 26th October 2025
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
Z0792 787-9 |
||||||||
| BKK 12:30 |
LGW 18:30 |
||||||||
| Duration: 13:00 | |||||||||
|
Z0791 787-9 |
||||||||
| LGW 16:00 |
BKK 10:25* |
||||||||
| Duration: 11:25 | |||||||||
* Next day
Norse offers a daytime flight from Bangkok to London with this new service – something you might consider bearable in the carrier’s Premium cabin, or even in Economy Class, despite the 13-hour journey time.
The 12.30pm departure time also gives you a good opportunity to either position up from Singapore the same morning, or enjoy a leisurely breakfast in your Bangkok hotel before heading to the airport.
Both Scoot and Jetstar offer daily low-cost Singapore – Bangkok flights that land before 9am, and would theoretically allow a same-day (though unprotected) connection option across to Norse’s London flight at 12.30pm.
Norse cabin products
Norse Atlantic operates its Boeing 787-9s in a two-class configuration totalling 338 seats, configured as follows:
- 56 seats in Premium (2-3-2)
- 282 seats in Economy (3-3-3)
The Premium cabin actually looks to be a decent offering, potentially a very good deal compared to legacy carriers’ Premium Economy products.
With 43-inch seat pitch, this far surpasses most full-service carriers’ Premium Economy in terms of legroom. There’s also a generous 12-inch recline, 11-inch touchscreen personal in-flight entertainment system (extendable from the armrest), and both AC and USB-A power sockets for charging your devices.
(Photo: Ben Smithson / The Points Guy)
Other features when you book Premium with Norse include:
- Priority check-in and boarding.
- Complimentary drinks served throughout the flight.
- Two meal services free of charge.
- Free entertainment on your personal screen.
- A complimentary amenity kit.
- 15kg carry-on baggage allowance.
Premium ‘Classic’ and ‘Flextra’ fares include a 23kg and 2 x 23kg checked baggage allowance, respectively. However, if you’re booking a Premium ‘Light’ fare, checked baggage comes at an additional cost – starting from US$60 one-way on the Bangkok – London route, for instance.
In Economy it’s a more typical arrangement, with 31-inch seat pitch, 17-inch seat width and just a 3-inch recline. However, there’s a 9-inch in-flight entertainment screen in each seat back with a complimentary selection – not something you’ll find on Scoot, while USB-A charging is also free.
(Photo: Thrifty Traveler)
Meals and drinks are chargeable in Economy, though the more expensive Economy ‘Classic’ and ‘Flextra’ fares do include the first main meal and a non-alcoholic drink in the ticket price.
Fares
New routes usually mean attractive entry-level fares during lower demand periods, and this one is no exception, with one-way tickets including taxes and fees starting at just US$260 in Economy Class, but be aware that the cheapest fares don’t include baggage.
| Norse Atlantic Lowest One-Way Fares Bangkok ⇄ London |
||
| Direction | Economy | Premium |
| BKK – LGW | US$310 (~S$413) |
US$630 (~S$840) |
| LGW – BKK | US$260 (~S$347) |
US$832 (~S$1,110) |
Provided all you need is a seat (that you can’t choose in advance) and a carry-on bag, that’s an amazing deal, given that US$148 of this fare (57%) is purely for the UK’s Air Passenger Duty and Gatwick Airport’s Passenger Service Charge!
Can it be successful?
The Bangkok – London route has seen multiple attempts at low-cost long-haul service over the years, but none have lasted long.
- Norwegian (2018 – 2019): The first true low-cost carrier to operate Bangkok – London flights, Norwegian launched Boeing 787 Dreamliner services between Bangkok and London Gatwick in 2018. However, due to financial struggles, the airline ceased all long-haul operations in early 2020.
- Scoot (2021 – 2022): Singapore Airlines’ budget subsidiary Scoot briefly operated Singapore – London Gatwick flights via Bangkok from December 2021, using Boeing 787s. The route was part of Scoot’s COVID-era network optimisation, but was discontinued in mid-2022, after only 45 flights.
- Norse Atlantic (From 2025): Norse Atlantic Airways, founded by former Norwegian executives, is now reviving Bangkok – London Gatwick flights from October 2025, again using Boeing 787s.
The key challenge for all these carriers has been balancing low fares with the high costs of long-haul operations, especially in a market dominated by full-service airlines.
EVA Air and Thai Airways operate non-stop Bangkok – London Heathrow flights on a year-round basis, while British Airways operates seasonal Bangkok – London Gatwick flights.
Additionally, Middle East giants like Qatar Airways and Emirates often undercut low-cost long-haul carriers like Norse, with competitive fares and superior service, usually including meals, baggage and entertainment.
Many airlines, including Norwegian and Scoot, have struggled with these challenges. Norse Atlantic is now testing the waters, but sustaining low-cost long-haul flights profitably will still be an uphill battle.
Even Scoot finds it difficult to make low-cost long-haul flights truly viable.
(Photo: Shutterstock)
The SIA Group budget airline’s Boeing 787s are mostly deployed on what many would classify as “medium-haul” routes at best: 7-hour stretches to the likes of North Asia and Australia.
Scoot has only a handful of genuine long-haul services – Athens, Berlin (soon ending), Jeddah, and the upcoming Vienna route.
Summary
Norse Atlantic Airways is the latest carrier to take on the challenge of low-cost long-haul flights between Bangkok and London, following the short-lived attempts of Norwegian and Scoot in recent years.
With competitive one-way fares starting from just US$260 in Economy and a promising-looking Premium cabin experience on offer, it’s one our readers might want to take advantage of if the operating days and timings suit, as a cost-effective way to get to or from Europe.
However, history suggests that sustaining this route will be no easy feat, against stiff competition from full-service carriers, many of whom can subsidise their Economy Class fares from higher Business Class profits.
Will you consider taking Norse’s new Bangkok – London flights if the price is right? Let us know in the comments section below.
(Cover Photo: Norse Atlantic)
EK and QR operates multiple flights daily from BKK with short layovers in the Middle East to London at a very competitive Economy Class price. I find it tough for Norse operating this route with just 3 flights weekly.
Wow the crew on the Wednesday flights will have a ball in BKK.3 days relaxation before operating back.I bet it will be a poplular flight for the crew to operate.
As an ex travel agents, I don’t think it will work in view of the competition as the price difference is mininal and not worth it. Nice try and good luck.
Norse Premium is a good offering. But struggle to see how this route will work for Norse. They are stopping LGW/MIA (only airline to fly from Gatwick to Miami and they are achieving high loads) to fly LGW/BKK, where they will be in competition with Thai.
Seems an odd decision to me.
If the price is right why not
I firrst saw this a month ago and most of the lowest fares went 3 days after launch. You are a bit late to the party
I always used to fly Thai until the service slumped, food thrown at you 2 to 3 hours after take off and again up to 6 hours before landing so I changed to EVA which again was always a good choice with helpful friendly crew, and they still are but less helpful, sadly the seats are now so cramped and uncomfortable in economy and double the price pre Covidt hat I have all but decided to stop travelling altogether.
However if the new airline can up the anti and maintain it then great and I will be regularly booking premium return and if they eventually offer miles wowie so bring it on and let’s get back to some fair pricing and good standards again.
Definately interested
We flew with norse Atlantic from Manchester to barbados, it was included in the price of the cruise so we had no option. We upgraded to premium and were bitterly disappointed. No lounge access unless we paid at check in, they ran out of meals for the first service and were given the option of tofu or nothing. Luckily some in economy didn’t want their meals so we were given them, like some sort of favour. No drinks when we wanted, it was with meals only so the crew told us. The seats are uncomfortable and the entertainment system doesn’t have great programs on it. The return flight was only slightly better with more then enough meals. So basically all we got for the upgrade was more leg room, and I certainly won’t be flying with them again through choice let alone for 13 hours to Bangkok.
I have flown Norse several times and love their service. I will definitely try the LGW to BKK flight.
I would and my partner would fly Norse to Thailand 100% and judging by the amount of tourists wanting to go there and already holidaying it’s gonna be big. Fact.