Thailand to allow local flights to resume in COVID-risk areas

[webfact]

FILE PHOTO: Thai Airways counters are seen empty in Suvarnabhumi Airport during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bangkok, Thailand April 30, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will allow some domestic flights to and from Bangkok and other high risk areas for COVID-19 to resume from Sept. 1, the country's aviation authority said Sunday, to help boost economic activity.

 

The announcement follows the easing of tough restrictions in 29 high-risk provinces from next month, including allowing more provincial travel and the reopening of shopping malls, as the government tries to revive a struggling economyhit by the outbreak.

 

Local fights can fly at up to 75% capacity and passengers will have to follow travel conditions at destinations such as presenting proof of vaccinations and COVID-19 testing results, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said in a statement.

 

Flights related to areas under a tourism reopening scheme will also be allowed, it said.

 

Airlines, including Asia Aviation and Bangkok Airways, have announced the resumption of some local flights from next week.

 

The relaxed curbs come as Thailand's biggest wave of infections shows some signs of easing after a daily record high of more than 23,000 new cases earlier this month amid an outbreak of the highly transmissible Delta variant.

 

On Sunday, it reported 16,536 new cases and 264 deaths.

 

While new cases remain high, they are likely to drop further as authorities ramp up vaccinations, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Sunday.

 

The government expects to have 140 million doses of vaccines this year, he said.

 

Thailand started its mass vaccination drive in June, but so far only about 11% of its more than 66 million population has been fully vaccinated.

 

(Reporting by Orathai Sriring, Panarat Thepgumpanat and Satawasin Staporncharnchai, Editing by Richard Pullin)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-08-30

 

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[RichardColeman]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thailand will allow some domestic flights to and from Bangkok and other high risk areas for COVID-19 to resume from Sept.

Yeah, but its not the domestic flights that will bring the money in

[habuspasha]

40 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Yeah, but its not the domestic flights that will bring the money in

Not entirely true.  If my GF can't fly to Phuket from Bangkok, I can't fly from NY.

[khaowong1]

3 hours ago, habuspasha said:

Not entirely true.  If my GF can't fly to Phuket from Bangkok, I can't fly from NY.

ahhhh, so your bringing the money in.  I see.  

[Gottfrid]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The government expects to have 140 million doses of vaccines this year, he said.

Ok, but then almost the whole population will be vaccinated for new year. That´s great information. Find it hard to believe, though.

However, if it is true??? NOT! Then we will have a better life to look forward to. Yippie! ????????

[Gottfrid]

3 hours ago, habuspasha said:

Not entirely true.  If my GF can't fly to Phuket from Bangkok, I can't fly from NY.

I can smell the richness! How wealthy are you?

[10baht]

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Yeah, but its not the domestic flights that will bring the money in

Step 1 vaccinations, I have said this from day one. Step 2 . eliminate the COE.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Local fights can fly at up to 75% capacity and passengers will have to follow travel conditions at destinations such as presenting proof of vaccinations and COVID-19 testing results, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said in a statement.

Would that not be better done at the departing airport before realising they don't have the correct proof?

Edited August 30, 2021 by hotchilli

[Captain Monday]

34 minutes ago, 10baht said:

Step 1 vaccinations, I have said this from day one. Step 2 . eliminate the COE.

COE. It is the worst, most harrowing part of the process. Come to Thailand 2 times this year. This time I literally flew to another US city, paid for a hotel night and covid test with no idea if I could board my flight or not. I got the email 2 hours before check-in for the flight began and had to pay some huge fee like USD $7.50 to print out 1 page at SFO. 

 

All for a bit of paper that  has no public health significance

 

However now they have tasted prepaid tests, mandatory health insurance and approved hotels. There will have to be some way of verifying all this, maybe in the future an app.

 

I don't believe COE will ever go away. covid-19 is just the thin end of the wedge.

 

 

Edited August 30, 2021 by Captain Monday

[micmichd]

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Yeah, but its not the domestic flights that will bring the money in

It's a start, and Farangs can use these domestic flights, too. 

[RotBenz8888]

12 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Would that not be better done at the departing airport before realising they don'y have the correct proof?

But that might cause less passangers-less tourists-less money.... 

[dougiemac52]

5 hours ago, habuspasha said:

Not entirely true.  If my GF can't fly to Phuket from Bangkok, I can't fly from NY.

Why can't you fly

[habuspasha]

4 minutes ago, dougiemac52 said:

Why can't you fly

I will go when I can be with her.

[mberbae]

Requiring proof of vaccinations is hilarious.

Only 11% of the population is currently vaccinated,

meaning,  flights can only be at 11% capacity.

[csmith]

11 minutes ago, mberbae said:

Requiring proof of vaccinations is hilarious.

Only 11% of the population is currently vaccinated,

meaning,  flights can only be at 11% capacity.

I bet after a little thought …. you eventually decide to delete your own post …. 
 

 

[superal]

This is a big plus for Thai business people who need to travel within the country . Also for the returning expats who on completion of their quarantine will be able to get to their preferred destination ,

After all to be able to travel anywhere in Thailand after your quarantine was a prominent feature of the "sandbox " and the past few weeks has made that all but impossible . Not forgetting that expats who are abroad will be aware of the limitations for provincial travel in Thailand , until now and with the new changes that will encourage more of them to visit their families and friends .  Bravo I say 

 

 

 

[Midwit]

33 minutes ago, mberbae said:

Requiring proof of vaccinations is hilarious.

Only 11% of the population is currently vaccinated,

meaning,  flights can only be at 11% capacity.

Common core math is really showing results. 

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

I can smell the richness! How wealthy are you?

 

Comment not needed.

[Chongalulu]

2 hours ago, Captain Monday said:

COE. It is the worst, most harrowing part of the process. Come to Thailand 2 times this year. This time I literally flew to another US city, paid for a hotel night and covid test with no idea if I could board my flight or not. I got the email 2 hours before check-in for the flight began and had to pay some huge fee like USD $7.50 to print out 1 page at SFO. 

 

All for a bit of paper that  has no public health significance

 

However now they have tasted prepaid tests, mandatory health insurance and approved hotels. There will have to be some way of verifying all this, maybe in the future an app.

 

I don't believe COE will ever go away. covid-19 is just the thin end of the wedge.

 

 

While the COE process is in place they will be cutting off,I guess ,90% of their tourist trade

[SomchaiCNX]

7 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Yeah, but its not the domestic flights that will bring the money in

If you are talking about Singapore you are right :). Domestic flights is all they have at the moment, many countries put Thailand on the red zone list.

[SomchaiCNX]

1 hour ago, mberbae said:

Requiring proof of vaccinations is hilarious.

Only 11% of the population is currently vaccinated,

meaning,  flights can only be at 11% capacity.

As people mentioned (complained about it)  before mostly the Hi So and those who can afford plane ticket are probably in that 11% group ???? I suggest you contact the TAT for their figures bet they are more positive ????

 

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

 

Comment not needed.

Neither was yours. You should heed you own advice more often. ???? 

[sanuk711]

Thailand to allow local flights to resume in COVID-risk areas---

 

S̄ạbs̄n..........................

[Kwaibill]

3 hours ago, mberbae said:

Requiring proof of vaccinations is hilarious.

Only 11% of the population is currently vaccinated,

meaning,  flights can only be at 11% capacity.

Your maths are not quite right. 11% of the population is not a limit on the number of people who might wish to travel. 11% of the vaccinated population, eligible to fly, is over seven million potential passengers, more than enough to fill any given flight more than 11%.????

[Kwaibill]

 

 

3 hours ago, mberbae said:

Requiring proof of vaccinations is hilarious.

Only 11% of the population is currently vaccinated,

meaning,  flights can only be at 11% capacity.

Your maths are not quite right. 11% of the population is not a limit on the number of people who might wish to travel. 11% of the vaccinated population, eligible to fly, is over seven million potential passengers, more than enough to fill any given flight more than 11%.????

[EricTh]

Only 10% is fully vaccinated and the Thai government want to open the economy?

 

Australia is almost 30% fully vaccinated and they are still having lockdowns in the risky areas until end of Sept.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-58277503

Edited August 30, 2021 by EricTh

[SuwadeeS]

I am in Bangkok and could not see my wife who works in a public school in Isaan for many month. I am so <deleted> off. Because nobody takes any responsibility.

 

So, when will the inter provincial busses restart??

[EricTh]

3 minutes ago, SuwadeeS said:

I am in Bangkok and could not see my wife who works in a public school in Isaan for many month. I am so <deleted> off. Because nobody takes any responsibility.

 

So, when will the inter provincial busses restart??

 

Are you fully vaccinated yet? It should start on 1 sept as in the article.

 

[SuwadeeS]

Just now, EricTh said:

 

Are you fully vaccinated yet? It should start on 1 sept as in the article.

 

Because of the failure of the government to start earlier with vaccination, I have to wait till I got my second jab? 

[Kwaibill]

Proof of vaccimation, fine. They  gave us each a green slip showing the details. Where and at what cost is testing done?

I see one group of clinics charges nearly 4,000 baht. Non- starter for me.