The CAAT only yesterday issued a notice allowing Phuket airport to re-open to limited domestic flights at 00:01am (May 16).
However, CAAT Director Dr Chula Sukmanop said in the order issued today, “Although Phuket is able to effectively control and stop the spread of the COVID-19, the situation is still considered a risk that needs to be monitored continuously to ensure that measures stop the spread of the disease to other areas and prevent the disease from spreading again in the Phuket area.”
The order issued today gave no set date for when Phuket airport might next be considered for re-opening. Instead, the order marked that it was to remain in effect “until further notice”.
Phuket airport has been closed since April 10*, with a ban on all flights except government and/or military aircraft; emergency landings; technical landing aircraft without passengers leaving the plane; aircraft providing humanitarian or medical aid; cargo aircraft; and any aircraft granted permission to repatriate foreigners to their home countries.
Meanwhile, the ban on all international passenger flights from entering Thailand also remains in effect until May 31.
* Correction: Phuket airport closed to domestic flights on April 10, not April 3 as originally reported. The ban on all inbound international passenger flights came into effect on April 3. Our apologies for any confusion caused.