The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) announced that Thailand had created a “sealed route” arranged at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport that would allow international transits and transfers while reducing the risk of the spread of COVID-19.
The CAAT also established the guidelines that passengers on flights with a layover at the Bangkok airport must follow.
It said that passengers would not be able to venture outside of the specified area (Concourse E) and that a “sealed route” has been created for passengers at gates E9 and E10, allowing people to enter the airport through Gate E10 and go through the security screening. They would then be able to board the transiting aircraft at Gate E9 or go on a designated shuttle bus directly to a plane.
Additional operations would also be available at Gates E5, E7, and E8 if demand exceeds existing capacity.
Likewise, the CAAT explained that all passengers and staff must comply with COVID-19 measures, including social distancing in waiting areas and the use of masks. It also said that food and beverage services would be available in the “sealed route” waiting area of the airport.
However, there would be active monitoring of the services, he said.
International flights carrying passengers in transit/transfer would only be allowed at Suvarnabhumi Airport and passengers must possess relevant documents, including a fit-to-fly health certificate and a medical certificate with laboratory results proving that COVID-19 was not detected.
The coronavirus tests must be carried out using the RT-PCR technique and issued no more than 72 hours before the trip.
The CAAT also requires passengers to have travel health insurance, worldwide or including Thailand, that covers healthcare and treatment expenses related to COVID-19, or any other guarantee throughout their stay in the country, with a coverage of not less than $100,000 (Bt3 .08 million).
The CAAT also said that there would be no COVID-19 controls or laboratory services in the airport’s transit/transfer areas.
Besides, airlines must submit transit/transfer flight plans to CAAT and the Operations Control Center of the area of operations at Suvarnabhumi Airport no later than 24 hours before the flight.
There will also be cleaning and disinfection of equipment and passenger areas following the security protocol and the Ministry of Public Health regulations.
