COVID-19 has brought air travel to a standstill. But from May 1, some Thai domestic airlines will resume domestic services from Don Muang International Airport following a temporary suspension during the lockdown.
Thai Air Asia has announced that it will resume certain domestic routes with an exception of Phuket, which is currently under the island-wide lockdown. Thai Lion Air will also restart domestic service with one flight daily to Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Suratthani, Hat Yai and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Nok Air, which is the only operating domestic airline during the lockdown, will resume full flight schedule from 1 May onward.
Chula Sukmanop, director of Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, has imposed mandatory guidelines that all airlines must follow to encourage hygiene and social distancing in flights. For example, all passengers must wear face masks throughout the flights, while each aircraft can carry only 70% of its full capacity of passengers. Also, in-flight meals, drinks and snacks are also prohibited.
Thai Airways and Thai Smile Airways aim to resume domestic operation from 1 June, while Bangkok Airways is expected to restart the service on 23 October.