Air France plans to fly Paris–Phuket five times a week from 16 December 2026 to 21 February 2027, up from three, according to schedule data reported by AeroRoutes, and Thai Airways doubles its Paris–Bangkok service from seven to 14 flights a week from 1 December. Both point at the same market: French travellers, who take some of the longest holidays of any visitors to Thailand. This briefing, from a Thailand DMC for travel agents, sets out the flights, the entry rule and how to package Thailand for French clients this winter.
Explera DMC is a TAT-licensed ground handler (TAT licence 14/05119, IATA 96215733) trusted by 2,380+ agency partners, with in-house transport, licensed guides and 24/7 support. Reach the trade desk at b2b@explera.co.th.
The flights
- Air France, Paris–Phuket: launched on 27 November 2025 at three flights a week with a Boeing 777. For the 2026/27 winter, the filed schedule shows five a week between 16 December and 21 February instead of three.
- Thai Airways, Paris–Bangkok: from seven to 14 flights a week from 1 December 2026, as part of the airline's winter schedule.
- Air France, Paris–Bangkok: Air France also serves Bangkok from Paris year-round.
Schedules filed months ahead can change. Quote from the airline's own schedule for your dates, and reconfirm before you ticket a group.
The market
Thailand recorded 710,968 French arrivals between 1 January and 23 November 2025, up 13.8% on the year before, according to TAT figures reported by The Nation, which ranked France fifth among Thailand's long-haul markets. In the first four months of 2026 more than 378,566 French visitors came, making France the ninth-largest source market overall. TAT figures also put the average French stay at just over 17 days, and that shapes everything about the product.
The entry rule
French passport holders are in the 30-day visa-exemption group under the framework that took effect on 15 September 2026, which covers all 27 EU member states. That covers a typical two- or three-week holiday. Plan anything longer around a visa or an extension, and check the current rules before you sell it. Our briefing on the 30-day visa exemption explains the rules.
What French clients book
Long stays make multi-centre trips the norm: Bangkok, then the north or the central plains for culture, then a beach week on the Andaman or the Gulf. The extra Phuket flights make it easier to start or finish on the beach without a domestic connection. Many French clients ask for French-speaking guides, so request them early for December to February. Our Phuket guide and Bangkok guide cover the two gateways, and our guide for European tour operators covers the wider market.
How to sell it
Use the long stay: two or three centres, with domestic flights or road transfers between them, and the beach at whichever end suits the flight. Hold rooms early for Christmas and New Year, inside the window when the extra Phuket flights operate. Our Thailand DMC transport team meets arrivals in Phuket and Bangkok, and our guide services can arrange French-speaking guides. Ask your Thailand DMC which days the Phuket flights run in your travel window before you fix the order of the centres. With a stay of two weeks or more, a Thailand DMC can also space out the internal legs so that no day is lost to two transfers. Every service is listed on our Thailand DMC services page, other markets are on our source markets page, and the trade desk is reached through our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
When does Air France fly Paris–Phuket five times a week?
From 16 December 2026 to 21 February 2027, according to schedule data reported by AeroRoutes, up from three a week. Reconfirm the operating days with the airline before you ticket.
How many Thai Airways flights link Paris and Bangkok this winter?
Fourteen a week from 1 December 2026, up from seven, under the airline's 2026/27 winter schedule.
Do French travellers need a visa for Thailand?
Not for tourist stays of up to 30 days: France is in the 30-day visa-exemption group, which covers all EU member states. Longer stays need a visa or an extension, so check the current rules first.
How long do French visitors stay in Thailand?
TAT figures put the average French stay at just over 17 days, so multi-centre itineraries with a beach week are the norm.
