Domestic flights banned

Suvarnabhumi airport appears nearly deserted on Monday. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has banned airlines from operating domestic flights between dark-red zones, which includes Bangkok. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)
Suvarnabhumi airport appears nearly deserted on Monday. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has banned airlines from operating domestic flights between dark-red zones, which includes Bangkok. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

A ban took effect Wednesday on domestic passenger flights to and from 13 dark-red zones under maximum Covid-19 control.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) had announced the indefinite ban on Sunday. The current restriction is expected to remain in force at least 14 days, to Aug 3.

The CAAT said it was acting in compliance with the latest decision by Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) declaring 13 areas hard-hit by the virus as dark-red zones of maximum and strict control.

The CCSA restricted travel to and from Bangkok city and the 12 provinces of: Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Narathiwat, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Ayutthaya, Yala, Songkhla, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon. All are in the greater Bangkok area or are nearby provinces or southern border provinces.

According to the CAAT, the ban concerns only domestic passenger flights. It spares those operating for tentatively reopened provinces, planes making emergency or technical landings, and essential flights including those serving patients and vaccine recipients.

The ban does not apply to cargo flights or international flights.

Vocabulary

  • ban: an official statement ordering people not to do, sell or use something - การห้าม
  • compliance: the practice of obeying a law, rule, or request - การยอมทำตาม
  • concern: to be about - เกี่ยวกับ
  • essential: necessary - ที่จำเป็น
  • greater Bangkok: including the main city of Bangkok, and its surrounding area -
  • in force: (of a law, rule, etc.) to be in use - มีผลบังคับ
  • indefinite (adj): of a period of time with no fixed end - ไม่มีข้อกำหนด
  • recipients: people who receive something - ผู้รับ
  • spare: to prevent someone from having to experience something unpleasant - ละเว้น, งดเว้น, ยกโทษให้,อภัยโทษ
  • strict: very careful and exact - เข้มงวด
  • tentatively: not definite, or not certain - ที่ยังไม่แน่นอน
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