The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has imposed stringent restrictions on both Thai and non-Thai citizens arriving from abroad by air, as well as aircraft flying into Thailand, effective from midnight on March 22nd.
Citing the World Health Organization’s recent declaration of COVID-19 as pandemic, the new restrictions require air passengers arriving in Thailand, from any country, to produce a health certificate valid for 72 hours, confirming that they are fit to fly.
For foreign passengers, they must also produce proof of health insurance, which covers COVID-19 infection treatment, up to the value of US$100,000 US dollars, to be shown to officials on arrival.
Entry to Thailand can be denied to anyone failing to produce either document.
Airlines must make sure that their non-Thai passengers have both documents, and Thai citizens have the health certificate, before they are issued with a boarding pass. Once on board, cabin crew must distribute forms, on which passengers must provide details of where they are to stay while in Thailand, or their residential address in the case of Thai passengers.
Additionally, on-board the aircraft a special section must be arranged for passengers who are showing symptoms of ill health.
Passengers must be told to wear face masks throughout the flight and cabin crew should avoid close contact with passengers as much as possible.
Airlines will be responsible for all expenses incurred in the isolation, quarantine, treatment and feeding of passengers who are infected, or suspected to be infected while in Thailand, if they fail to comply with these CAAT restrictions.
Aircraft flying into Thailand must be parked at special locations at their arrival airport and no unauthorized person will be allowed on board until permission is granted by Thai disease control officials, after the planes are disinfected.
