Qatar Airways is pleased to announce that it will start carrying passengers on inbound flights to Bangkok, starting 1 October 2020 until 31 October 2020*. With airlines limited to only carrying passengers on outbound flights from Thailand, the airline now becomes one of the international carriers approved to carry passengers on inbound flights into Thailand. The airline’s resilience and commitment to providing connectivity will also see it operating 14-weekly flights to and from Bangkok.
The current travel restrictions announced by the authorities of the Kingdom of Thailand will allow the following categories of passengers into Thailand conditionally:
- Thai Nationals
- Exempted Persons (permitted or invited by the Prime Minister of Chief Official)
- Diplomats and International Organization Officers
- Family of Thai Nationals
- Non-Thai Nationals (holding a Certificate of Residence)
- Work Permit Holders
- Students
- Foreigners with medical appointment
- Foreigners under Special Arrangement
- Holders of non-immigrant types of visa (business travellers, providing six-month bank statement)**
- Holders of Special Tourist Visa**
- Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Cardholders (from low risk countries)**
- Those who wish to stay in Thailand in short and long term (60-day stay in Thailand, providing six-month bank statement)**
Inbound passengers are required to present a Fit to Fly Health Certificate and a medical certificate^ with a laboratory result indicating a negative COVID-19 test, using a RT-PCR test that is issued no more than 72 hours before departure. It is also mandatory for all passengers to present the Certificate of Entry (COE) at the time of check-in, immigration and with health authorities upon arrival in Bangkok. Additionally, passengers are also required to have a confirmed Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ), self-paid hotel booking on the arrival date. Passengers can select their ASQ from a list of approved hotels on hsscovid.com.
Passengers can now make their bookings on qatarairways.com or via travel agents. Passengers arriving into Bangkok are encouraged to check the latest information via https://www.qatarairways.com/en/travel-alerts/requirements.html for details before booking, as well as from other reliable sources such as the Royal Thai Embassies or Consulates and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.
Mr Justin Kestel, Country Manager for Singapore, Myanmar & Thailand, Qatar Airways said: “Qatar Airways has shown resilience and dedication to take people home by being one of the very few airlines that has never stopped operating to Bangkok throughout the COVID19 period. We are thrilled to be granted permission to carry eligible passengers into Thailand as the country starts easing entry restriction for more types of passengers. We also look forward to rebuilding global connectivity while supporting the recovery of trade and tourism industries in Thailand.”
According to the latest IATA data, Qatar Airways has become the largest international carrier between April to July by fulfilling its mission of taking people home. This enabled the airline to accumulate unmatched experience in carrying passengers safely and reliably and uniquely positioned the airline to effectively rebuild its network. The carrier has stringently implemented the most advanced safety and hygiene measures on board its aircraft and in Hamad International Airport.
Qatar Airways’ onboard safety measures for passengers and cabin crew include the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for cabin crew and a complimentary protective kit and disposable face shields for passengers. Recently, the airline has also become the first global carrier to operate Honeywell’s Ultraviolet (UV) Cabin System, further advancing its hygiene measures onboard. In clinical tests, UV light has been shown to be capable of inactivating various viruses and bacteria when properly applied. Business Class passengers on aircraft equipped with Qsuite can enjoy the enhanced privacy this award-winning business seat provides, including sliding privacy partitions and the option to use a ‘Do Not Disturb (DND)’ indicator. Qsuite is available on flights to more than 30 destinations including Frankfurt, Kuala Lumpur, London and New York. For full details of all the measures that have been implemented onboard and in HIA, please visit qatarairways.com/safety.
Qatar Airways operations are not dependent on any specific aircraft type. The airline’s variety of modern fuel-efficient aircraft has meant it can continue flying by offering the right capacity in each market. Due to COVID-19’s impact on travel demand, the airline has taken the decision to ground its fleet of Airbus A380s as it is not commercially or environmentally justifiable to operate such a large aircraft in the current market. The airline’s fleet of 49 Airbus A350 and 30 Boeing 787 are the ideal choice for the most strategically important long-haul routes to Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific regions.
Qatar Airways’ home and hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA), has implemented stringent cleaning procedures and applied social distancing measures throughout its terminals. Passenger touchpoints are sanitized every 10-15 minutes and boarding gates and bus gate counters are cleaned after each flight. In addition, hand sanitizers are provided at immigration and security screening points. HIA was recently ranked “Third Best Airport in the World”, among 550 airports worldwide, by the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2020. HIA was also voted the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for the sixth year in a row and ‘Best Staff Service in the Middle East’ for the fifth year in a row.
*Extension of operational dates is subject to further regulatory approval. The operation is subject to change without prior notice. (Information as of 5 October 2020.)
**Subject to approval by Thai authorities. Please refer to announcement from COVID-19 Information Centre’s Facebook page.
