Indonesia Design - Defining Luxury
Thai Airways: Experiencing Royal Elegance in the Sky
Thai Airways has been operating for almost 60 years and has built its reputation as one of the leading international flight carriers serving over 84 destinations in 37 countries. The airline features a state-ofthe-art Royal Silk Class that boasts a luxuri
Indonesia Design had the opportunity to experience the royal elegance with the Royal Silk Class, Thai Airways’ business class type during the trip to Paris when the magazine took part at the International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes last year. The trip took us to discover the exquisite service delivered right from the ground, with the well-designed lounge, and of course during the flight. The airline really boasts the class of its own in terms of luxury flight.
We flew with Airbus380-800 for this destination. It was the type of the aircraft that the airline has used since 2012. Powered with Rolls-royce Trent 900 engines, the aircraft boasts a double deck and generous seat configurations across classes to scale greater heights of comfort. The airline has specified a premium three class layout for its fleet, seating a total of 507 passengers. All classes feature new cabin designs, with 12
private suites in First Class, 60 fully flat sleeper seats in Royal Silk Class and 435 seats in Economy.
As we step into the upper deck of the Royal Silk Class, our eyes were pampered with a sea of purple hues with beautiful patterns adorning the rear bulkhead. Onboarding, the colours are enhanced by the mood lighting that the A380 offers, adding warmth in the orange tones to the walls. The soothing ambience is ideal for the passengers to unwind. No less important is the friendly flight attendants who greeted us with genuine smile. Not to be missed is the iconic angled shell designed spacious seats measuring 150 to 160 cm pitch and 51 to 55 cm width.
To make the most of its new flagship, Thai Airways chose the highly-regarded Stelia Solstys seat from EADS Sogerma and adopted a space-efficient staggered 1-2-1 layout, which gives every passenger direct aisle access and privacy. All of the 60 seats can be reclined 180°, turning it into a completely flat bed. Apart from the WIFI access and an in-seat power socket, each business class seat is also equipped with a fantastic on-board entertainment selection that is displayed through a 15-inch personal Audio Visual On Demand (AVOD) interactive touch screen, complete with
BOSE headphones to ensure perfect sound. Each seat in the Royal Silk Class also comes with complimentary amenities featuring international reputable brands such as Rimowa, Porsche Design, Mandarina Duck, and Lacoste, the brand that created the custommade packaging design for the airline.
The company initiated a program entitled “The Most Hygienic In-cabin Environment Program”, with an emphasis on air quality, surface cleanliness, and food safety in each aircraft. The program includes the removal of all in-flight disposable materials after flights, the sterilisation and fumigation of all cabin equipment, and inspection of the air circulation system. A special audit process is also carried out for the cleaning and sanitisation of aircraft systems by a team of specialists. These measures are applied to the entire Thai Airways fleet.
Thai Airways was the first airline to install hospital-grade air filter, True HEPA, capable of intercepting up to 99.99 per cent of dust particles and microorganisms on every flight. They received an award from the World Health Organisation for the implementation of its in-cabin management system in 2004. It was the first award of its kind to be presented to a private organisation.
Thai Airways serves an excellent service based on the kind and warm hospitality that the country is known for. The friendliness of the flight attendants combined with their patience and helpful attitude is simply priceless. Personally, this is what luxury truly means. On top of that, the food on board also offers a vast array of delectable Thai authentic cuisines in addition to the western selection that will surely satisfy any food critic.
The way we see it, the award-winning Royal Silk Class really offers the best of Thai Airways’ hospitality and great design that truly reflects high sophistication and royal elegance.
Thai Airways fly from Jakarta/denpasar to Paris via Bangkok, daily flight using A380. Please visit www.thaiairways.com for more details.