Timor-Leste and Thailand Accelerate Preparations for an Air Services Agreement to Enable Direct Flights Between Dili and Bangkok
On October 9th, 2026, in Bangkok, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, met Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, to advance the finalisation of the Air Services Agreement between the two countries and to discuss the conditions for establishing direct flights between Dili and Bangkok.
The meeting took place as part of the official visit of Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão to Thailand and followed up on understandings reached between the Heads of Government of both countries on strengthening air connectivity.
During the meeting, the two sides agreed to expedite the necessary procedures to finalise the Air Services Agreement. Timor-Leste has completed all internal procedures and is ready to proceed with signing, while Thailand is still completing the required formalities.
Minister Miguel Manetelu stated that “the Government of Timor-Leste, through the Ministry of Transport and Communications, has completed all internal procedures and is ready to sign the agreement, in accordance with the requirements set by Thailand.”
The agreement will establish the framework for air links between the two countries, aimed at facilitating the movement of passengers and cargo and supporting trade, tourism, investment, and people-to-people contacts between Timor-Leste and Thailand.
Authorities from both countries will be able to begin technical discussions and operational preparations before the formal signing of the agreement. The eventual launch of a direct route between Dili and Bangkok will also depend on a commercial assessment and the decision of the airline interested in operating the service.
The Air Services Agreement was initialled by the civil aviation authorities of Timor-Leste and Thailand in April 2025. The text provides for airlines from both countries to operate services between Timor-Leste and Thailand, including through code-sharing agreements.
The agreement is scheduled to be formally signed in November or December 2026, on the sidelines of an ASEAN Transport Ministers’ Meeting in the Philippines.
During the meeting, participants also discussed cooperation in maritime and land transport, as well as human resource development through vocational training, exchange of experience, and technical capacity building. In civil aviation, the possibility of expanding Timor-Leste’s participation in regional programmes supported by the Asia and Pacific Office of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, headquartered in Bangkok, was examined.
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport congratulated Timor-Leste on its accession to ASEAN. He expressed his country’s support for Timorese participation in regional transport cooperation mechanisms to strengthen connectivity among Member States.
The conclusion of the Air Services Agreement will build on bilateral cooperation in the transport sector and establish the framework for direct air links between Timor-Leste and Thailand.
