The two-hour standoff occurred on the Thai Airways flight from Zurich to Bangkok on October 11. Seats in the first-class cabin were full as the airline had upgraded its business-class passengers to first class, leaving no seats for the two pilots.
Thai Airways is investigating a controversial flight delay in which two of its off-duty pilots demanded to be seated in first-class, causing two fare-paying passengers to give up their seats.
The two-hour standoff occurred on the Thai Airways flight from Zurich to Bangkok on October 11. Seats in the first-class cabin were full as the airline had upgraded its business-class passengers to first class, leaving no seats for the two pilots.
The Zurich-Bangkok route is usually operated by a Boeing 777, which has only business and economy seats. But a malfunction in Zurich prompted the airline to use a Boeing 747 instead.
The pilots claimed that it was “industry practice” to ensure that they get sufficient rest and that “first-class seats were part of the deal”, Bangkok Post reported.
A fellow Thai Airways pilot said that while the pilots were correct in claiming they “had the right to access first-class seats”, but only when available.
The standoff delayed the flight until two passengers, reportedly a high-ranking Thai official and his wife, volunteered to forfeit their upgrade.
The couple filed a formal complaint with THAI upon their return to Bangkok.
Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said the pilots' claim that they had the right to occupy first-class seats was subject to the company's internal regulations.