By Bhuva Chira, Sanook.com
THE Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) issued an announcement today (15.5.2020) closing Phuket airport, with the stated reason being that the coronavirus pandemic remains a threat, even though it had issued an announcement yesterday allowing it to reopen on May 16, Sanook.com reported.
In yesterday’s announcement CAAT said Phuket airport would mainly reopen for domestic flights but also some international flights that obtain special permission from May 16 at 00.01 a.m. onward.
Yesterday’s announcement also said that most foreign flights were still barred from landing at this popular island’s airport until May 31 at 23.59 p.m.
The about-face followed the decision of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) meeting this morning, presided over by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, to slow down the reopening of Phuket from previously set for May 16 with the issue to be raised again next week.
Yesterday CAAT also divided Thai airports currently in service into two categories as follows:
- Operating for domestic flights only are airports in Nan, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Mae Sot, Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Phanom, Buriram, Roi Et, Loei, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Chumphon, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Ranong.
- Operating for both domestic and international flights, aside from Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports in Bangkok, are those in Krabi, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Mae Fah Luang – Chiang Rai, Samui, Surat Thani, Hat Yai, Hua Hin and U-Tapao – Pattaya.
CAPTION:
Top: Phuket Airport on a recent sunny day. Photo: Andy Mitchell (CC BY SA 2.0)
