Thailand: Conditions on International Flights during COVID-19 Pandemic
To flatten Thailand’s COVID-19 curve, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (“CAAT”) had imposed a ban on all international flight entering Thailand since April 3, 2020. Nevertheless, seeing the stabilization of the local cases and effective social distancing protocol for the past months, Thailand will be resuming international flight, effective from July 1, 2020.
According to CAAT’s Notification re: Conditions for International Flight Permit to Thailand, CAAT has stipulated several conditions for special flights and passenger flights inbound for Thailand.
To flatten Thailand’s COVID-19 curve, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (“CAAT”) had imposed a ban on all international flight entering Thailand since April 3, 2020. Nevertheless, seeing the stabilization of the local cases and effective social distancing protocol for the past months, Thailand will be resuming international flight, effective from July 1, 2020.
According to CAAT’s Notification re: Conditions for International Flight Permit to Thailand, CAAT has stipulated several conditions for special flights and passenger flights inbound for Thailand.
1). Special flights
The following types of aircraft are eligible for CAAT’s permission for incoming, outgoing, flyover and/or landing in Thailand:
- State or military aircraft
- Emergency landing aircraft
- Technical landing aircraft (no embarking of passengers)
- Aircraft on a humanitarian, medical or relief mission
- Aircraft for repatriation
- Cargo aircraft
2). Passenger Flights
For passenger aircraft to be given with CAAT’s permission, passengers or persons on board must be one of the following categories:
- Thai nationals
- Person invited by the Thai government
- Non-Thai nationals, who are spouse, parents or children of a Thai national
- Non-Thai nationals holding a valid certificate of residence or permission for residence
- Non-Thai nationals holding a valid working permit, including spouse and children of the same
- Carriers of necessary goods (must depart immediately after the mission has been completed)
- Aircraft crew members (must have a complete travel itinerary)
- Foreign students, including parents or guardians of the same
- Foreign nationals seeking medical assistance/treatment in Thailand (excluding COVID-19)
- Diplomats, international organization representatives or foreign government representatives, including spouse, parents, or children of the same
- Foreign nationals with a special arrangement permitted by the Thai authorities
Passenger flights under the above conditions must also adhere to all local regulations (i.e. Thai immigration law, communicable diseases law, air navigation law, and the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation). Additionally, all passengers must comply with all COVID-19 related screening process (e.g. COVID-19 RT-PCR), as well as, 14-day state required quarantine. Please refer to our previous article on Thailand’s COVID-19 immigration rules, procedures and required documents (see: Immigration Rules)
We will provide further updates on further regulation, tourism related travel and travel bubble as the information becomes available in the near future. For any assistance, please contact us at law@ilct.co.th.
By:
Chart Chotiphol
Counsel/Business Development