Thailand finally starts to reopen it’s borders to international flights from overseas
In a recent article in the “Thailand Business News”, Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (C.A.A.T.) has announced that the ban on scheduled international flights will be lifted subject to certain conditions effective from July 1st, 2020 onwards.
Starting from July 1st, 2020 any persons flying into Thailand must comply with any rules and guidelines set by Thai Law such as the Immigration or Communicable Disease and Air Navigational Act’s and/or any emergencies decrees.
- The C.A.A.T. will allow any aircraft to fly over, and/or to land or to take off from any international airport in Thailand if:
a) The aircraft belongs to the Thai Government/Military.
b) Any aircraft with technical issues that’s in emergency distress and needs to land.
c) Any technical flights landing at a Thai International Airport with no passenger disembarkation.
d) Any humanitarian aid and relief flights and/or emergency medical evacuation flights.
e) Any special chartered repatriation flights.
f) Any inbound or outboard air freight/cargo flights.
2. Starting on July 1st, 2020 The C.A.A.T. will allow international flights carrying the following categories of passengers to land and/or to take off from any international airport in Thailand:
a) Any Thai Nationals with a valid Thai Passport.
b) Any Non-Thai Nationals entering the Kingdom by special invitation of the Thai Government.
c) Any Non-Thai Nationals who are either married to and/or related to a Thai National residing in Thailand.
d) Any Non-Thai Nationals with Thai Residency, or permission to take up residence in Thailand.
e) Any Non-Thai Nationals with a valid work permit inclusive of their spouse and children.
f) Any Non-Thai Nationals designated as special couriers of necessary goods, subject to their immediate departure once the necessary goods have been successfully delivered.
g) Any Non-Thai National aircraft crew members who are required to travel into Thailand to complete a specific task, with a specific date and time of departure.
h) Any Non-Thai Nationals who are students of approved Thai Educational Institutions and their parents/guardians who accompany the students.
i) Any Non-Thai Nationals and their attendants entering Thailand for medical treatment, with the exception of being treated for Covid-19.
j) Any Non-Thai Nationals entering Thailand for Diplomatic and/or Consular Affairs and/or Special Arrangement inclusive of their spouses and/or children.
In addition, all of the above-mentioned categories of passengers will be screened and/or tested for Covid-19 on arrival by the Immigration and/or Communicable Diseases offers subject to their capabilities and if deemed necessary complete a mandatory quarantine period at their own personal expense.
There is an unsubstantiated rumour (this was not mentioned in the article but rather by an online blogger responding to the article) that only 200 Non-Thai Nationals will be allowed into Thailand per day until such time as more state quarantine rooms are made available, and that these individuals must submit their travel itinerary in advance so that they can be monitored by health and security officials at all times. The Thai Government is obviously taking the threat of Covid-19 seriously, which explains why Thailand has not had a single new case of Covid-19 for several weeks now.
