A weekly flight will start on 26 November 2025, with the airline hoping to cater for the estimated 100,000-plus passengers travelling indirectly between the two cities and the same number travelling from other UK airports that could travel from Manchester.
Norse said the route “marks a bold step in addressing the region’s largest underserved long-haul market”. It will launch a Bangkok flight from Gatwick a day before the Manchester inaugural.
Norse chief executive Bjorn Tore Larsen said: “We don’t just follow demand — we unlock it. This route has been waiting to happen, and we’re proud to be the ones making it a reality.
“Manchester is a key gateway to the north of England, and Bangkok is a magnet for adventure, business, and culture. Connecting the two cities is a natural next step for Norse as we continue to disrupt and expand in the long-haul space."
Flights from Manchester will operate on Wednesdays, departing 11.30pm, with an arrival of 6pm in Bangkok. Flights depart Bangkok at 8pm, arriving in Manchester at 2.15am. Basic hand luggage-only return fares start from £259, including taxes. Norse said there was “potential for expansion based on demand”.
Although it will be the first time Norse has operated from Manchester under its own colours, the airline has a lease deal to operate IndiGo’s new Manchester-Mumbai service, which began on Tuesday (1 July).
Manchester airport managing director Chris Woodroofe said: “Bangkok is one of the most exciting destinations on the planet and is rightly one of the most popular.
“Many people from the region travel there every year but until now they have had to book connecting flights. This new route will make a huge difference by meaning people can get there directly from the UK’s global gateway in the North.”
