The first 43 Thai and foreign passengers arrived at Suvarnabhumi international airport during the early hours today (Monday), the first day Thailand reopens to foreign arrivals. Tight health safety controls were in place with more officials present than arriving passengers.

The arrivals included 32 Thai nationals and 11 others of various nationalities who flew from Narita international airport in Japan.

Wearing full PPE suits, officials checked passengers’ documents, to make sure they met the safety and immigration requirements. All luggage was sprayed with disinfectants before being loaded onto waiting vans, which took them to their pre-booked accommodation.

A Thai passenger told a Thai PBS reporter at the airport that the controls were very tight and that the RT-PCR test upon arrival was unnecessary because she had one less than 72 hours before boarding the flight to Thailand.

It has been reported that a total of 61 international flights will enter Thailand via Suvarnabhumi airport today. 40 of which are passenger flights with a total of 2,300 passengers, which also includes 11 flights from Thai Airways. While about 20 flights entering the country are cargo flights.

Thailand reopens its air borders fully vaccinated and COVID-negative arrivals to 63 countries and territories with only one-day quarantine today, while others can enter the country through 17 provinces, including Bangkok, through the “sandbox” project with quarantine from one to two weeks required.