Thailand
Thailand: Aviation agency extends inbound flight ban a month
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) on Monday decided to extend the ban on all incoming flights for another month over coronavirus concerns.
The aviation regulator announced the extension ahead of the scheduled expiry date, April 30, on the grounds that the situation was worsening. The ban was also in support of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s (CCSA) battle to control the pandemic outbreak in Thailand, it said.
The announcement did not explain why CAAT believes the situation is getting worse, with many countries now looking to relax some restrictions.
Thailand reported nine new cases and one more death yesterday, when it was also announced the government was extending the state of emergency for one more month, to May 31.
The flight ban, also extended to May 31, exempts state military aircraft and aircraft making emergency landings or technical landings without disembarkation.
It also spares humanitarian aid, medical and relief flights as well as repatriation and cargo flights. CAAT director Chula Sukmanop had earlier indicated the need to keep the ban after it expires at the end of this month.
The decision will affect international airlines planning to resume commercial flights to Thailand, including Philippines AirAsia, which had announced the resumption of its Manila-Bangkok service from May 1.
Thailand is 58th in the global ranking of Covid-19 cases, which is currently led by the United States.
With confirmed cases worldwide poised to pass the 3-million mark, Taweesilp Visanuyothin, the spokesman for the CCSA, told a briefing on Monday the global situation is still serious.
On Sunday, Dr Taweesilp pointed to rising cases in neighbouring countries as the main concern for the centre, although the situation in Thailand is improving.
The number of new infections has increased in Singapore, Indonesia and the Phillipines, according to data from the CCSA.
That spike prompted Dr Taweesilp’s concerns about imported cases.
