The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has granted seven more airports to resume domestic flight operations effective from Saturday (June 6), said on its website.

Mr. Chula Sukmanop, CAAT Director-General said, “The CAAT has green lighted the seven airports to resume domestic flights for now.”

The seven domestic airports include Tak Airport (TKT), Nakhon Ratchasima Airport (NAK), Petchabun Airport (PHY), Trat Airport, Narathiwat Airport, Pai Airport and Sukhothai Airport.

The decision came up following the government’s move to easing the lockdown restrictions which were earlier imposed to limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.

However, the Emergency Decree banning international flights is still effective until the end of June therefore airports are not yet allowed to operate commercial international flights. The ban does not apply to state or military aircraft, emergency landing, technical landing without disembarkation, humanitarian aid, medical and relief flights, repatriation flights and cargo flights.

The Government of Thailand has not announced any date when international flights will resume. Mr. Prayut Chan-O-Cha, Prime Minister of Thailand, said that he cannot control the COVID-19 situation beyond the borders of Thailand. Earlier, he also said that the ban on international flights should be continued as country can’t afford a second wave of COVID-19 infections.

As per the statement of the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Saturday (June 6), most new infections were of Thai returnees from foreign countries since late May.

As of Monday (June 8), the country has reported a total number of 3,119 confirmed cases and 58 deaths caused by virus. However, 2,973 patients tested positive for COVID-19 have completely recovered.