BANGKOK — 2 June 2026, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited marked a first in its 66-year history on Monday when a female pilot operated a commercial flight for the national carrier.
Pannathorn Tangrungruangchai, known as “Bam,” served as the airline’s first female First Officer on flight TG564 from Bangkok to Hanoi aboard an Airbus A320-200, registration HS-TXS.
According to Thai Airways, the flight marked the first time a woman has served as a pilot for the airline since it began operations 66 years ago. The occasion was attended by Chuntarica Jotikasthira, Chief Human Resources Officer, and executives from the airline’s flight operations team.
While the appointment is a first for Thai Airways, women have served as captains and first officers at other Thai and international airlines for many years.
Women remain significantly underrepresented in airline cockpits worldwide. Industry data from Women in Aviation International shows women accounted for approximately 5.5% of airline transport pilots in the United States in 2024, while international estimates place the global share of female airline pilots at around 6%.
Thai Airways said the appointment reflects its commitment to diversity and equal opportunity in aviation. The airline did not provide details on whether women had previously applied for pilot positions or why no female pilot had joined its flight crew ranks before 2026.
Pannathorn graduated from the Aeronautical Engineering and Commercial Pilot Programme at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang before completing flight training at Asia Aviation Academy.
She later accumulated more than four years of experience as an Airbus A320 First Officer with another airline.
Thai Airways said it hopes the appointment will encourage more women to pursue careers in commercial aviation.