Thailand and Airbus Partner to Elevate Space and Clean Aviation
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul invites aerospace giant to launch the Centre of Excellence, transfer space tech, and adopt Thai-produced SAF
- Thailand's Prime Minister has invited Airbus to support the commercial adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) produced from the country's agricultural resources.
- The partnership aims to enhance Thailand's domestic space and satellite technology ecosystem through direct knowledge and technology transfer from Airbus.
- Airbus plans to establish a Center of Excellence in Thailand to serve as a regional hub for aerospace technology development and to train a skilled local workforce.
- This collaboration is part of Thailand's strategic goal to become a regional aviation hub and advance its high-tech industries.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul invites aerospace giant to launch a Centre of Excellence, transfer space tech, and adopt Thai-produced SAF.
Thailand Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul met with senior Airbus executives at Government House on Friday, 2 October 2026, to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation beyond commercial aviation into space technology, workforce training, and clean energy.
During a courtesy call with Wouter van Wersch, executive vice president of international business at Airbus, and Bert Porteman, representative of Airbus Thailand, the Prime Minister invited the European aerospace manufacturer to deepen its investment presence and accelerate technology transfers to Thailand.
The meeting underscored the Thai government’s strategic push to transform the nation into a regional aviation hub and advance high-tech industries of the future.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Agriculture Integration
A central proposal put forward by the Prime Minister involves integrating Thailand’s agricultural produce into the global aviation supply chain through the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Anutin urged Airbus to support the commercial adoption of Thai-manufactured SAF, noting that utilising local agricultural feedstocks would not only accelerate carbon reduction efforts across the aviation sector but also establish new high-value export markets and boost revenues for Thai farmers.
Centre of Excellence and Space Tech Transfer
To support long-term capability building, Airbus outlined plans to establish a dedicated Centre of Excellence in Thailand. The facility will act as a regional hub for technology development, linking local institutions with Airbus’s global technical network to train Thai engineers and technicians in advanced aerospace disciplines.
Building on this framework, Anutin proposed broadening existing space and defence partnerships—such as Airbus’s ongoing collaborations with the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) and Thaicom Public Company Limited.
The enhanced cooperation will focus on direct knowledge transfer to help build Thailand's domestic space and satellite technology ecosystem.
Supporting National Aviation Ambitions
The discussions also covered commercial aviation services, workforce expansion, and ongoing partnerships with national carrier Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI).
Reaffirming the administration's support, Anutin stated that the Thai government is committed to facilitating Airbus investments that deliver tangible economic returns, skilled job creation, and industrial modernisation across Thailand’s aerospace sector.
