Thailand: Carriers eye return to Don Mueang

Airlines are pleading to restart domestic flights from Don Mueang airport in September to stem a liquidity crisis. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is holding discussions with low-cost carriers this week to settle travel safety regulations, which CAAT must submit to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration for approval. Nok Air CE Wutthiphum Jurangkool said airlines are awaiting a decision as their domestic operations have been suspended since July 21 as the country remains under an aviation lockdown. Airlines were told to prepare for possible service resumption on Sept 1, but they may have to wait until Sept 15. "The dark red zone restrictions actually affect just Bangkok and Hat Yai, but in the past month most domestic flights have peen paralysed, which handicaps the cash flow of airlines," said Wutthiphum. Nok Air is allowed to fly limited services from U-tapao airport in Chon Buri to certain provinces, such as Phuket, Chiang Mai, Udon Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat, due to travel restrictions in many places. Potential passengers have refrained from travelling because they prefer the convenience of Don Mueang airport, he said. Additional requirements, such as negative RT-PCR test reports and vaccine certificates for passengers to some provinces, present another obstacle for air travel, said Wutthiphum. Nok Air has adjusted flight frequencies on a weekly basis as some routes might have less than 40 passengers per day from all available flights, he said. As a result, the airline's operation costs are leading to losses for each flight, said Wutthiphum.<br/>