Phuket has gained several new non-stop long-haul routes for the 2026–27 high season. In the past ten days the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has welcomed three inaugural flights: Virgin Atlantic from London Heathrow (19 October), Belavia from Minsk to Bangkok, with Phuket flights starting 29 October, and Kuwait Airways from Kuwait (27 October). If you are planning a winter trip to the Andaman coast, you may now be able to fly direct instead of connecting through a Gulf hub or Bangkok.
Below are the schedules TAT has published, the entry rules that apply to each nationality, and a short arrival checklist for Phuket International Airport.
Last reviewed: 28 October 2026. Checked against TAT Newsroom releases, Royal Thai Embassy visa-exemption information and the CAAT checked-baggage notice published by PRD.
London Heathrow – Phuket (Virgin Atlantic)
- Inaugural: flight VS214 left London Heathrow on 18 October and landed in Phuket on 19 October 2026. TAT says all 258 seats were full.
- Frequency: three flights a week for the UK winter season, until 26 March 2027.
- Outbound: departs Heathrow on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 15:45 and arrives in Phuket at 09:55 the next day.
- Return: departs Phuket on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 11:45 and arrives at Heathrow at 19:25.
- Capacity: TAT says the route adds 774 inbound seats a week.
According to TAT, the route sits alongside existing UK–Thailand non-stop services. Thai Airways and EVA Air operate a combined 21 weekly flights between Heathrow and Bangkok, and British Airways, TUI and Norse Atlantic Airways run seasonal services to Bangkok and Phuket from London Gatwick and Manchester. UK visitors stay an average of about 14 days, so a morning arrival in Phuket gives you most of your first day on the island.
Kuwait – Phuket (Kuwait Airways)
- Inaugural: flight KU407 landed in Phuket at 14:55 on 27 October 2026.
- Frequency: every Tuesday and Saturday on a 278-seat Airbus A330-900neo. That adds 556 inbound seats a week, alongside the airline's six weekly Kuwait–Bangkok flights.
- Outbound: KU407 departs Kuwait at 03:30 on Tuesdays and 03:25 on Saturdays, arriving at 14:55 and 14:50 respectively.
- Return: KU408 departs Phuket at 16:15 and arrives in Kuwait at 20:35 on both days.
- Peak season: Kuwait Airways plans to increase the route to up to four flights a week from 2 December 2026 to 3 February 2027, subject to final scheduling and aircraft availability.
TAT says it will work with partners on packages covering Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, including family activities, halal dining and wellness. Kuwaiti visitors stay about 13 nights on average, and Phuket and Krabi are among their most popular destinations.
Minsk – Bangkok and Phuket (Belavia)
- Bangkok: Belavia's first scheduled flight, B2 799, arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 17:05. TAT announced the launch on 26 October 2026. The route runs every Sunday on an Airbus A330-200 with 281 seats (18 business and 263 economy). It departs Minsk at 03:10 and arrives in Bangkok at 17:05. The return leaves Bangkok at 19:05 and lands in Minsk at 01:50 the next day.
- Phuket: twice-weekly scheduled Minsk–Phuket flights on the same aircraft type start on 29 October 2026. TAT says this adds about 2,248 inbound seats a month.
- Background: Belavia previously flew charters to U-Tapao (Rayong–Pattaya) and Phuket from January 2026, then suspended them for the off-season. These are now scheduled services.
Entry rules by nationality
Direct flights do not change visa rules, so check yours before you book.
- United Kingdom and Kuwait: both are on Thailand's current 30-day visa exemption list, in effect since 15 September 2026, according to the Royal Thai Embassy in Doha. Visa-exempt travellers should have a passport valid for at least six months and may be asked for proof of funds equivalent to THB 20,000 per person (THB 40,000 per family). Thai Immigration may grant an extension at its discretion if you apply before your permitted stay ends.
- Belarus: TAT states that Belarusian passport holders are eligible for Visa on Arrival for stays of up to 15 days. Anyone planning a longer winter stay should apply for a tourist visa in advance through thaievisa.go.th. For residents of Belarus, the Royal Thai Embassy in Moscow handles applications.
- Other passports: if you are flying on one of these routes but hold a different passport, for example a resident of the UAE on Kuwait Airways or a dual national, your nationality decides the rules, not the airline. Check the Royal Thai Embassy or thaievisa.go.th.
Whatever your passport, every foreign arrival must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within three days before arrival at tdac.immigration.go.th.
Arriving at Phuket International Airport: practical checklist
- Submit the TDAC within the three-day window and keep the confirmation on your phone.
- Have documents ready: your return or onward ticket, your first hotel booking, and, for visa-on-arrival travellers, the required forms and fee. Officers can ask for any of these.
- Expect queues. Several long-haul arrivals land around midday and early afternoon, and the high season is busy. Some travellers book airport fast-track assistance to get through formalities with less waiting, especially with children or after an overnight flight. It is optional, not a requirement.
- Sort out data before you fly. Phuket's beaches, ferries and ride apps all assume a working phone. Setting up a Thailand eSIM before departure means you have data on landing, or you can buy a local SIM at the airport.
- Pack checked bags for Thailand's rules. Since 16 October 2026, Thai airport operators may open and inspect flagged checked baggage without you present. The process is video-recorded and a notice is left inside. CAAT advises TSA-approved locks and keeping valuables, fragile items and important documents in your cabin bag. This applies when you check in for your return flight too.
- Check the weather. Late October is still the tail end of the southwest monsoon on the Andaman coast. On 28 October the Thai Meteorological Department said rain in parts of the South should ease after 29 October, though scattered showers may continue. Check boat and ferry advisories before island-hopping.
Who benefits most
- UK travellers heading for the Andaman coast save a connection. Most other winter options to Phuket go via Bangkok, the Gulf or another Asian hub. The Heathrow schedule leaves mid-afternoon and arrives mid-morning.
- Families from Kuwait get a direct afternoon arrival and, from December, more frequencies during the school-holiday peak.
- Belarusian travellers, who TAT says plan winter holidays around 140 days ahead, now have scheduled rather than charter options to both Bangkok and Phuket.
Airlines can change schedules, so always confirm times and days with the carrier before booking. The times above come from TAT's launch announcements.
Sources
- TAT Newsroom, "TAT welcomes Virgin Atlantic inaugural London Heathrow–Phuket flight" (19 October 2026): https://www.tatnews.org/2026/10/tat-welcomes-virgin-atlantic-inaugural-london-heathrow-phuket-flight/
- TAT Newsroom, "TAT welcomes Kuwait Airways' inaugural Kuwait–Phuket flight" (27 October 2026): https://www.tatnews.org/2026/10/tat-welcomes-kuwait-airways-inaugural-kuwait-phuket-flight/
- TAT Newsroom, "TAT welcomes Belavia's first Minsk–Bangkok flight ahead of Phuket route launch" (26 October 2026): https://www.tatnews.org/2026/10/tat-welcomes-belavias-first-minsk-bangkok-flight-ahead-of-phuket-route-launch/
- Royal Thai Embassy, Doha, Tourist visa exemption and visa on arrival: https://doha.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/tourist-visa-exemption-visa-on-arrival
- Royal Thai Embassy, Moscow, E-Visa application procedures: https://moscow.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/e-visa-application-procedures
- PRD, "Checked Baggage May Be Opened for Security Inspection from 16 October 2026": https://thailand.prd.go.th/en/content/category/detail/id/48/iid/551369
- Thaiger, "Thailand cold season delayed as rain and heat continue" (28 October 2026): https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/weather/thailand-cold-season-delayed-as-rain-and-heat-continue
Image: International terminal of Phuket International Airport (HKT). Photo by MNXANL, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Editorial note: Foreigner's Thailand is an independent editorial guide, not a travel agent, airline or visa agency. Flight schedules and entry rules can change. Always confirm times with your airline, and confirm visa and entry requirements with Thai Immigration or your embassy before you travel.