168 Thai nationals, many of them students, who have been stuck in New Zealand during the coronavirus lockdown, will return home tonight (27th April).

The Royal Thai Embassy in Wellington revealed that 88 students, aged between 11 and 19 years old, will be returning to Thailand on a flight arranged by Thai Airways.

They will leave Auckland International Airport at 1.10pm local time, and will arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 8.15pm Bangkok time.

The Embassy in Wellington also reported that the repatriation is the result of co-ordination between the governments and private sectors of both countries, including Thai Airways, educational agencies, the respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education in New Zealand, Education New Zealand, New Zealand’s Embassy in Thailand and Thai communities around New Zealand.

The Royal Thai Embassy in Wellington also thanked everyone who supported the mission to help these Thai nationals to return home safely.