BANGKOK — 9 March 2026, Thailand’s civil aviation regulator has eased rules to allow additional evacuation flights amid conflict in the Middle East, prioritising humanitarian needs for passengers stranded abroad.

Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), said on Monday that under normal circumstances flight approvals must follow each country’s standard procedures.

However, during war or emergencies, authorities often need greater flexibility and cooperation, particularly for flights arranged to repatriate citizens or passengers back to their home countries.

Speaking at the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Kasetsart University, Manat said CAAT had adopted a reciprocal approach by approving additional flights requested by airlines seeking to pick up stranded passengers.

“In normal situations it may not be easy to approve additional flights, but in wartime humanitarian considerations must come first so people stranded abroad can return home as quickly as possible,” he said.

He added that Thailand has also sought permission from foreign aviation authorities to send aircraft to evacuate Thai nationals from conflict zones, a process that likewise requires approval from the host countries.

Airfares still within legal ceiling

Manat said ticket prices remain within the legal fare ceiling set by regulations.

Passengers who already bought tickets but are unable to travel due to unrest must be assisted by airlines in line with CAAT regulations, including providing accommodation or covering related expenses when flights are delayed or disrupted.

The rules are outlined under CAAT Notification 101 issued last year, which requires airlines to take responsibility for passengers affected by flight delays or cancellations. The regulation applies to both Thai and foreign carriers operating in Thailand.

In practice, Manat said, most passengers are less concerned about compensation than about returning home as quickly as possible, since few people want to remain stranded overseas for an extended period.

Fuel price volatility a concern

Manat acknowledged that aviation fuel costs have been highly volatile following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.

At the start of the conflict, global oil prices surged nearly threefold, jumping from around 70–80 US dollars per barrel to more than 200 dollars per barrel.

CAAT is monitoring the situation to prevent fuel suppliers from taking advantage of existing stock to raise prices excessively. The agency is also preparing to discuss possible measures with the Finance Ministry, including reducing fuel excise tax or seeking cooperation from Airports of Thailand to lower airport fees to help stabilise ticket prices if the conflict drags on.

He said it was difficult to predict how long the war would last.

“Even though I used to serve in the military, it is impossible to determine how long a war will continue,” he said.

Summer flight schedule to grow 5–8%

Despite negative factors from the Middle East conflict, Thailand’s summer flight schedule is expected to grow by around 5–8% compared with last year, driven largely by a rebound in travellers from China and India.

Suvarnabhumi Airport is currently busy almost around the clock, with virtually no non-peak periods, as Thailand is widely seen as a safe haven compared with other conflict-affected regions.

Although the Middle East conflict has affected some flight routes — particularly those using the region as a refuelling stop before continuing to Europe — the overall impact on Thailand remains limited, Manat said.

Thailand’s aviation system, he added, remains capable of supporting continued growth in international travel.