Troubled Thai Airways plans flights to seven destinations in November

Thai Airways International has confirmed it will operate “semi-commercial” international repatriation flights in November to seven destinations, including London, Tokyo and Sydney. The flights are being organized in conjunction with Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will be used to repatriate Thai citizens and deliver cargo. The beleaguered airline, which has filed for bankruptcy but is operating under a court-approved restructuring, flew similar services on a slightly reduced schedule in October. READ: UK travel ban part of new nightmare COVID lockdown It said the flights will operate until the beginning of December 2020 and are open to passengers with “travel, education and business needs”, including special tourist visa holders. The schedule is:

• Bangkok-Sydney round trip, one flight per week. Passengers on the Sydney flight outbound from Bangkok are required to contact the Australian embassy in Thailand before making a reservation. The flight will leave Bangkok on Sundays and return on Mondays.
• Bangkok-London round trip, one flight per week on Sundays
• Bangkok-Frankfurt round trip, one flight per week on Fridays
• Bangkok-Copenhagen round trip, one flight per week on Sundays
• Bangkok-Hong Kong round trip flight on 4 and 18 November 2020 as well as one flight per week on Wednesdays throughout December
• Bangkok-Tokyo (Narita) two round trip flights per week with flights leaving Bangkok on Wednesdays and Saturdays and returning Thursdays and Sundays.
• Bangkok-Taipei round trip, one flight per week on Fridays and Wednesday 4 and 18 November 2020 as well as on Friday 4, 11 and 18 December 2020 and Wednesday 23 December 2020

The Thai carrier said all flights would comply with strict security and health standards under government COVID-19 guidelines and noted passengers arriving in Thailand face a 14-day quarantine. It said all aircraft would be disinfected and deep cleaned. Thai has been badly hit by the coronavirus epidemic and Thai media reported that almost 5000 workers, about a quarter of the total staff, have been asked to resign. This is an increase on previous media reports which suggested 10 percent of the workforce had been asked to take early retirement.