Thai Airways to launch first non-stop service to US in May

Thailand's national carrier Thai Airways on Monday announced an expansion of its international routes, including its first non-stop flights to the United States starting May 1.

The airline would later this month extend existing international flight schedules to nine cities, as part of a flight route expansion for the summer.

"These adjustments were made in order to support expansion of the investment market, business and leisure travel in the USA, and tourists increased needs to travel, following the Thai government and private sectors efforts to work together to revive tourism after the tsunami," the airline said in a statement.

The 17-hour New York flights would operate six times a week and carry 215 passengers, it said. The airline already flies four times a week to Los Angeles via Osaka, Japan.

Between March 27 and October 29 the airline would also add an extra flight per week to London, Madrid, Stockholm and Frankfurt.