Back in June Thai Airways, unable to transport many passengers, pivoted into the prepared meals space offering food pre-orders for pickup at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports. Now they’ve taken their culinary aspirations and grown that into a new airport cafe.

The new restaurant just opened yesterday, and is decorated with real airplane seats, model airplanes, and “even an airstair at the entrance that would (probably) make you miss boarding their iconic purple planes.” Meal choices include,

• Penne pasta carbonara, 129 baht (US$4.10)
  
• Chicken tikka with a choice of naan or basmati rice, 145 baht (US$4.61)

Credit: Thai Airways

Credit: Thai Airways

Credit: Thai Airways

Restaurant patrons receive a boarding pass for the flight ‘from Thai Airways (THA) to Headquarters (HDQ)’ that shows they’re in first class. Opening times are limited, Wednesday – Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or until sold out (food service doesn’t begin until 9 a.m.).

I actually think the airline’s earlier plan to generate enough revenue to keep flying by selling frozen Thai meals has greater potential to scale than this restaurant, and I’d buy Thai’s duck rice soup in a minute.

Thai Airways Duck Rice Soup

With the restaurant concept Thai Airways is following the lead of AirAsia which opened its first cafe in the fall, though reviews suggest that the effort isn’t very good. Still I’d prefer their food over anything I might prepare out of the United Airlines cookbook.

(HT: @winglets747)