Thai Airways makes history with first female pilot in 66 years
Thai Airways marks a historic milestone as Pannathorn Tangrungruangchai becomes the airline’s first female pilot on a commercial flight.
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited has marked another important milestone in its corporate history, with Pannathorn Tangrungruangchai serving as First Officer on a Thai Airways commercial flight for the first time on June 1, 2026.
She operated on flight TG564 from Bangkok to Hanoi, using an Airbus A320-200, registration HS-TXS.
The flight made her the first female pilot to officially operate a Thai Airways flight. Chuntarica Jotikasthira, Chief Human Resources Officer, and executives from flight operations joined in congratulating her.
The achievement reflects Thai Airways’ commitment to promoting diversity, equality and opportunities for talented personnel to grow in aviation careers.
Thai Airways’ first female pilot graduated from the Faculty of Aeronautical Engineering and Commercial Pilot at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. She also completed commercial flight training at Asia Aviation Academy before gaining more than four years of experience as an Airbus A320 First Officer with a leading airline.
Her appointment marks another important milestone for Thai Airways in its new era, reflecting the capability of Thai personnel in the aviation industry and the airline’s readiness to develop human resources in line with international standards.
The success of Thai Airways’ first female pilot is expected to inspire a new generation, especially women who dream of careers in aviation, to step confidently into a challenging profession and help drive Thailand’s aviation industry towards the future.
An image from Flightradar24 shows Thai Airways flight TG564 (TG/THA) on June 1, 2026, operated by an Airbus A320, registration HS-TXS, travelling from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in Bangkok to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) in Hanoi.
The flight marks another chapter in Thai Airways’ history, as it was the first time a female pilot operated on one of the airline’s flights since the company began operations more than 66 years ago, following its first flight on May 1, 1960.
