Nok Air resumes India flights with direct service to Hyderabad amid fierce competition from Thai AirAsia

Nok Air plans to restart its international operations with a new Hyderabad route, marking its cautious entry into the Indian market amid competitive pressure from Thai AirAsia, signalling a busy winter schedule for Bangkok carriers.

Nok Air is preparing to return to India after more than a year without international services, with the Bangkok-based carrier planning to launch direct flights from Don Mueang to Hyderabad on 14 October. The airline’s move would mark the end of a pause in overseas operations that began in June 2025, and signals a cautious re-entry into a market it appears to see as viable for the winter season.

According to advance timetable data, Nok Air plans to run the route four times a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, using a Boeing 737-8 configured with 189 seats. The service is expected to form part of a wider winter schedule running from October 2026 through March 2027, with the airline indicating that additional Indian gateway cities could follow if the initial route performs well.

The return comes with competition already lined up. Thai AirAsia has also filed plans to resume Hyderabad flights, starting on 18 November, using Airbus A320 aircraft with 180 seats. Its schedule is set to mirror Nok Air’s frequency, with four weekly departures on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flight information published online shows the Thai AirAsia service departing Bangkok at 20:50 and arriving in Hyderabad at 22:55, underscoring how closely matched the two carriers are likely to be on timing as they vie for passengers on the same city pair.