Picture courtesy of CAAT.

 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has announced on January 23, new regulations governing passenger rights, limiting the circumstances under which airlines can refuse to transport passengers. These rules, issued by the Civil Aviation Board (CAB) under Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Mr. Suriya Jungrungreangkit, will come into effect on 19 February 2025.

 

Under the new directive (CAB Regulation No. 104), both Thai and international airlines operating in Thailand may deny boarding to passengers only in the following cases:

 

1. Special Assistance Not Pre-arranged: Passengers requiring special assistance who fail to notify the airline within the specified timeframe. Airlines must demonstrate that all reasonable efforts were made to accommodate the passenger’s needs safely but were ultimately unable to provide the necessary assistance.

 

2. Lack of Travel Documents: Passengers unable to present government-issued identification, travel, or immigration documents to relevant authorities.

 

3. Entry Restrictions: Passengers prohibited from entering the destination country or any transit country as notified by immigration authorities.

 

4. Infants Under 14 Days Old: Airlines can refuse boarding to newborns under 14 days old.

 

5. Unaccompanied Minors: Children under 5 years old traveling without a guardian.

 

6. Pregnancy Restrictions: Pregnant passengers exceeding the gestational limit set by individual airline policies.

 

Additionally, airlines are permitted to refuse transportation of passengers, baggage, or items that passengers decline to be searched or fail security screenings. Denials may also occur due to safety and security concerns, as outlined in the Air Navigation Act B.E. 2497, amended by the Air Navigation Act (No. 14) B.E. 2562, Section 41/133.

 

The regulation aims to protect passenger rights while maintaining high safety and security standards.

 

-- 2025-01-24

 

 

These are new ??

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

These are new ??

No, these are now the six reasons the airlines can deny a passenger boarding, unless there are safety and security concerns.

Interesting, being intoxicated and carrying weapons would seem to be allowed!

39 minutes ago, RayWright said:

Interesting, being intoxicated and carrying weapons would seem to be allowed!

 

No. They are still forbidden. All that has changed was the addition of  the security screening reference. The  contract of Carriage provisions remain. The key paragraph in Thai is 

 

The Carrier also has the right to refuse carriage of passengers, baggage and goods which the passenger does not consent to or does not pass a security search, including refusing carriage on grounds of safety and security.

 

Weapons as cargo are addressed under  the Air Navigation Act and by the  Contract of Carriage sets out the security and safety rules. For example, Thai's Contract of Carriage states;

 

ARTICLE 11 - CONDUCT ABOARD AIRCRAFT 11.1 GENERAL  If, in our reasonable opinion, you conduct yourself aboard the aircraft so as to endanger the aircraft or any person or property on board, or obstruct the crew in the performance of their duties, or fail to comply with any instructions of the crew including but not limited to those with respect to smoking, alcohol or drug consumption, or behave in a manner which causes discomfort, inconvenience, damage or injury to other passengers or the crew, we may take such measures as we deem reasonably necessary to prevent continuation of such conduct, including restraint. You may be disembarked and refused onward carriage at any point, and may be prosecuted for offences committed on board the aircraft.

 

It is open ended.

 

And yes, involuntary denial of boarding due to oversell of seats, cancellation, IRROPS and weather is still allowed.

 

49 minutes ago, RayWright said:

Interesting, being intoxicated and carrying weapons would seem to be allowed!

And yelling "Bomb" at the top of your voice. A very foolish thing to do.

Most of this is kind of common sense. But since many people don't have that, I guess you have to point it out.

The only one that surprised me is:
5. Unaccompanied Minors: Children under 5 years old traveling without a guardian.

I'd think the minimum age should be more like 16.