If you’ve ever sat through a three-hour layover in Doha just to sip a Chang in Sukhumvit, rejoice: Norse Atlantic Airways is giving the North a non-stop to Thailand. That’s right, Manchester to Bangkok, no Heathrow, no changing planes, no overpriced Pret at T5.
From 26 November 2025, Norse will launch weekly seasonal flights from Manchester to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) using its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. For now, it’s running through to March 2026 just long enough to escape British winter, or stay conveniently lost until Easter.
The Schedule
- Z0891 MAN–BKK: Departs Wednesdays 23:30, lands 18:00 Thursday
- Z0892 BKK–MAN: Departs Thursdays 20:00, lands 02:15 Friday
In This Post
Why This Matters
This marks Manchester’s first-ever direct link to Bangkok, despite over 100,000 people flying the route annually, always with a stopover. Until now, if you lived north of Watford and fancied pad Thai and pool parties, it meant schlepping to London or making a connection somewhere sandy and inconvenient.
No more. Norse says this route has been “waiting to happen”. We say: about time.
What You’ll Actually Get Onboard
Norse isn’t playing around with metal, it’s flying this route on its sleek Boeing 787-9, inherited from Norwegian long-haul days. Here’s the cabin lowdown:
Premium
- Huge personal space, wider seats, better recline, and more legroom than most premium cabins on the Atlantic.
- Return fares from £805 (if you book smart).
- Sadly, still no flatbeds, but you weren’t getting that for £800 anyway.
Economy
- Cheapest return fares from £256 (yes, really).
- No food (bring your own noodles).
- 10kg carry-on included (finally).
- Checked bags, seat selection, and meals cost extra.
- Free IFE — so you can binge-watch Thai travel vlogs while ignoring your seatmate’s tuna sandwich.
The Big Picture
Norse CEO Bjørn Tore Larsen says:
“We don’t just follow demand — we unlock it.”
Translation: Norse is becoming the go-to disruptor in long-haul leisure routes. And this new MAN–BKK service pairs nicely with its other move: operating IndiGo’s new Mumbai to Manchester route on a damp lease.
Meanwhile, Manchester Airport MD Chris Woodroofe couldn’t resist the local plug:
“Bangkok is one of the most exciting destinations on the planet… and now the North has a direct line.”
He also mentioned football. Of course he did.
Reality Check
- Only one flight per week, so miss it and you’re back to Middle Eastern connections.
- It’s seasonal, ending in March 2026 — though Norse says it might extend if things go well.
- Still, for Northern travellers looking for a long-haul break that doesn’t start with a Virgin train to Euston, this is a win.
Cabin Binge: More Reads
