Extension of temporary ban on all international flights to Thailand until 30 June 2020

[ubonjoe]

Download: CAAT-News-8-Extension-of-temporary-ban-on-all-international-flights-until-30-June-2020.pdf

 

 

 

Thailand extends ban on incoming international flights until end June

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand on Saturday extended a ban on international passenger flights until the end of June, the country's aviation regulator said, as new cases in the country dwindle.

 

The Civil Aviation Authority's ban extends a previous order that was set to run until the end of May.

 

The announcement comes as the country begins to relax local restrictions after reporting single-digit increases of infections from the new coronavirus this month.

 

On Sunday the government will allow malls and department stores to re-open. It will also shorten a nighttime curfew by one hour, to 2300 to 0400, from 2200 to 0400.

 

The aviation regulator first introduced the suspension of international flights in April in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

 

Thailand has reported a total of 3,025 cases of the coronavirus and 56 fatalities.

 

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Sam Holmes and Christina Fincher)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-16

 

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[DrJack54]

Everyone (most)  were guessing flights from China, Sth Korea might come sooner than end of June.

I think read in another thread Ubonjoe thinking borders closed bit longer than some were thinking. Very true it would seem.

Have few mates in Oz with family here in Thailand. I was telling them week or so back...buckle up for long haul.

Edited May 16, 2020 by DrJack54

[KMartinHandyman]

Now I know why last week Emirates tentatively planned to resume here on July 1st. 

[BritTim]

I do not find this announcement surprising. Perhaps, in the July to August time frame, limited services might be allowed from selected countries. We shall see, 

[Raphus]

Thanks Joe.

I was waiting for some formal confirmation.

Good work as usual mate.

 

[Mama Noodle]

Its going to be like this for a LONG time. There are still thousands of Thailands own countrymen stranded globally that the toads at the helm of government wont even allow back at any reasonable rate, so why would they all of a sudden allow international travelers. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Oyyyyyy.....    

 

Maybe it's for the best...  but hard to swallow nonetheless.

 

COVID is definitely one import Thailand can do without.

 

You do have to wonder though... if the conditions right now warrant extending the international flights ban for another month, are the conditions really going to be that much different in another one month from now???

 

[tribalfusion001]

8 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

Its going to be like this for a LONG time. There are still thousands of Thailands own countrymen stranded globally that the toads at the helm of government wont even allow back at any reasonable rate, so why would they all of a sudden allow international travelers. 

And probably an admission that their healthcare system will not be able to cope with a large outbreak

[ukrules]

15 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Everyone (most)  were guessing flights from China, Sth Korea might come sooner than end of June.

I think read in another thread Ubonjoe thinking borders closed bit longer than some were thinking. Very true it would seem.

Have few mates in Oz with family here in Thailand. I was telling them week or so back...buckle up for long haul.

I've got a feeling things will change very rapidly before July

[tribalfusion001]

1 minute ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Oyyyyyy.....    

 

Maybe it's for the best...  but hard to swallow nonetheless.

 

COVID is definitely one import Thailand can do without.

 

You do have to wonder though... if the conditions right now warrant extending the international flights ban for another month, are the conditions really going to be that much different in another one month from now???

 

You can be positive or negative, but realistically nothing much is going to change for another 2 or 3 months, maybe more.

[ukrules]

2 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

COVID is definitely one import Thailand can do without.

It's been here since a few days after the initial outbreak in Wuhan or wherever it came from.

 

People think it could have been as early as October / November last year.

[Why Me]

This fits with Thai Airways scheduled return to flying on July 1 in an item linked in another post some days back:

https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2020/05/thai-maps-out-return-to-the-skies/

[champers]

2 minutes ago, ukrules said:

I've got a feeling things will change very rapidly before July

I agree. Subject to new infections and deaths remaining low, I think pressure will be brought to bear on the Government from big business interests who are shouldering the burden for helping the poor whilst the Government has spurned the chance to do likewise. Revenues need to be generated from selected foreign visitors.

[asiasurfer]

Oh yea. Thailand is trying to bring back Tourism. I can see it works... ????

[darrendsd]

9 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

And probably an admission that their healthcare system will not be able to cope with a large outbreak

Not many countries healthcare systems have - so what's your point?

[tribalfusion001]

3 minutes ago, champers said:

I agree. Subject to new infections and deaths remaining low, I think pressure will be brought to bear on the Government from big business interests who are shouldering the burden for helping the poor whilst the Government has spurned the chance to do likewise. Revenues need to be generated from selected foreign visitors.

It's not up to the Thai government or business for tourists returning. External countries have quarantine for it's citizens or bans from them leaving, until these conditions are lifted, very few tourists going anywhere.

[DrJack54]

7 minutes ago, ukrules said:

I've got a feeling things will change very rapidly before July

And what will be the requirements for aliens to fly into Thailand?

Chinese and many others come for couple of weeks. Meaning quarantine would not work. 

There is still quarantine for Thai nationals currently repatriating. 

On top of all that Thailand would struggle to impose quarantine on large numbers.

It's a pipe dream. 

Farang here in Thailand can/soon fly back home countries, just don't plan on getting back.

 

[ThailandRyan]

Lines up with the Amnesty period on Visa's is how I see it.  Lets see if if does not get pushed again.  Stay Safe folks, and my condolences to those separated from there families.  I hope all goes well and families can be reunited soon...

Edited May 16, 2020 by ThailandRyan

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, ThailandRyan said:

Lines up with the Amnesty period on Visa's is how I see it.  Lets see if if does not get pushed again

Well sorta. Thats a LOT of folk that would need exit within one month period. Think your right regarding extending amnesty.

BTW.... I have 2 flight cancellations from bkk to Melb and bkk to Osaka. Yeah I got credits from Jetstar. Guess what the flight cost is more than double normal for future booking. 

[ThailandRyan]

12 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Well sorta. Thats a LOT of folk that would need exit within one month period. Think your right regarding extending amnesty.

BTW.... I have 2 flight cancellations from bkk to Melb and bkk to Osaka. Yeah I got credits from Jetstar. Guess what the flight cost is more than double normal for future booking. 

My Flights out on Delta were not canceled just date changed and re-routed, but why fly to the US when I can not return 2 weeks later like I was suppose to do...At least I have Delta E-credits good until September 2022

[michel7752]

SWISS airline is scheduling BKK for July, too.

 

Since last year 51% of Thai Airlines belongs to the Ministry of Finance. Maybe those people know something more.

 

In any case: it takes two to tango.

 

[Traubert]

35 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

It's not up to the Thai government or business for tourists returning. External countries have quarantine for it's citizens or bans from them leaving, until these conditions are lifted, very few tourists going anywhere.

Governments talk to Governments.

 

I am quite sue they'll tell you what's what when they see fit.

[DrJack54]

21 minutes ago, michel7752 said:

SWISS airline is scheduling BKK for July, to

IMO means zip. Book a flight. Then when it's cancelled obtain your credit towards future flight. 

As much as folk can complain about  AirAsia. I had 2 cancelled flights April and May. They allowed free change to September and Oct. Have flight June 12. Zero chance of that happening.

I have credits from Saigon to Melb. Just looked at Jan/feb 2021. Price DOUBLE.

Edited May 16, 2020 by DrJack54

[elliss]

54 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

And what will be the requirements for aliens to fly into Thailand?

Chinese and many others come for couple of weeks. Meaning quarantine would not work. 

There is still quarantine for Thai nationals currently repatriating. 

On top of all that Thailand would struggle to impose quarantine on large numbers.

It's a pipe dream. 

Farang here in Thailand can/soon fly back home countries, just don't plan on getting back.

 

       Oh, my Buddha , we are prisoners in Land of smiles .

       Spending the last two months in isolation with my thai wife ,

       has been a testing experience , what do we have in common ? .  Nuff said .

          I  just want to go home , asap..

 

   

 

Edited May 16, 2020 by elliss
spelling

[taninthai]

26 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Movement at very least out of Thailand would be required prior to end of amnesty.

There has never been a block on movement out of Thailand,,flights out are and always have been available

[ThailandRyan]

3 minutes ago, elliss said:

       Oh, my Buddha , we are prisoners in Land of smiles .

 

   

 

Not prisoners, just some of the folks here are long extended guests, while others are tourists who need to extend because they did not want to leave the Land of Smiles.....

[lopburi3]

From COVID briefing response today there is no plans for even allowing those with work permits to return anytime soon (talk of having to return Thai before thinking of such matters and hope that could be done in June - but from amounts that were mentioned needing to return it does not seem realistic if quarantine of only 300 per day is available).  As for those married to Thai and stuck outside country they do not even seem to be on any radar above general tourists - it could be months. 

[ThailandRyan]

6 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

From COVID briefing response today there is no plans for even allowing those with work permits to return anytime soon (talk of having to return Thai before thinking of such matters and hope that could be done in June - but from amounts that were mentioned needing to return it does not seem realistic if quarantine of only 300 per day is available).  As for those married to Thai and stuck outside country they do not even seem to be on any radar above general tourists - it could be months. 

I would have to agree with you and it is unfortunate that all of those who need to be repatriated have not been brought back.  Then at the same time those families separated are suffering as well.

[anchadian]

5 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Not prisoners, just some of the folks here are long extended guests, while others are tourists who need to extend because they did not want to leave the Land of Smiles.....

Not necessarily so.

 

Some tourists might have a genuine reason to be stuck here.  Waiting for a refund from previous cancelled flight or flights and possibly therefore unable to pay for another flight home.

[DrJack54]

15 minutes ago, taninthai said:

There has never been a block on movement out of Thailand,,flights out are and always have been available

I was referring to the bigger picture. Many folk currently in Thailand are hoping to exit via airport or land borders. 

Many air options have not been possible. As outlined on many threads. Esp folk needing transit stop such as Taiwan. 

Also refer to post #34. Many in that situation.

 

Edited May 16, 2020 by DrJack54