The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has decided to extend the ban on all incoming flights, with certain exceptions, from April 19^th to the end of this month.

The ban was initially imposed on April 3^rd to curb the spread of COVID-19, which could be brought into the country by some passengers who, while infected, might have passed pre-flight health screenings.

CAAT director Chula Sukmanop cited the still worrisome coronavirus situation in Thailand for the need to extend the ban.

Under the ban, no flights are allowed to land in Thailand except for military aircraft on diplomatic missions, emergency landings, technical landings without disembarkation, those on humanitarian missions, those for medical, relief or repatriation purposes and cargo aircraft.

Any passengers who are allowed to disembark will be subject to a 14-day quarantine at state facilities.

Meanwhile, the Association of Thai Pilots has urged the Transport Ministry to consider helping employees in the aviation industry, whose annual earnings are less than 150,000 baht and who are being financially affected by the pandemic.

In a letter, addressed to Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob today, association president Sanong Mingcharoen said that there are about 2,000 workers in the aviation sector who are on low pay and are affected like many workers in other sectors, but are not eligible to receive the 5,000 baht/month cash subsidy provided by the Government.

He proposed tax breaks or a debt moratorium for the aviation workers.