BANGKOK — The Civil Aviation Board (CAB), chaired by Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, has issued CAB Regulation No. 101 on Measures to Protect the Rights of Passengers on Scheduled Domestic and International Flights. This regulation will come into force on May 20, 2025.
Strengthening Passenger Rights Protection
The new regulation focuses on strengthening the rights of passengers on international flights affected by delays or cancellations without prior notice, especially if the passengers have already arrived at the airport.
In the event of delays to international flights, the regulation obliges airlines to take the following measures:
- For delays exceeding 2 hours: Airlines must provide food and beverages or vouchers to purchase them, as well as communication devices, free of charge.
- For delays exceeding 5 hours: In addition to the above, airlines must compensate passengers with 1,500 baht in cash or offer alternative compensation of equivalent value, such as travel credits, vouchers, or mileage points, within 14 days. Airlines must also provide accommodation and transportation if an overnight stay is necessary. If passengers no longer wish to continue their journey, airlines must offer immediate options for ticket refunds or suitable alternatives.
- For delays exceeding 10 hours: Besides all previously mentioned measures, airlines must immediately offer passengers the choice between:
- Receiving cash compensation within 14 days (2,000 baht for flights up to 1,500 km, 3,500 baht for flights between 1,500–3,500 km, and 4,500 baht for flights over 3,500 km), or
- Receiving alternative compensation of equal or greater value (travel credits, vouchers, mileage points, etc.) within 14 days, along with accommodation and transportation if an overnight stay is required. If passengers choose not to continue traveling, airlines must offer options for a refund, alternative flights, or other suitable transportation arrangements.
Compensation Details for Passengers
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has declared that if international flights are canceled or boarding is denied, airlines must compensate passengers in a similar way to delays of more than 10 hours. The exceptions to this rule are cancelations that have been announced at least seven days in advance, cancelations with alternative flights that guarantee arrival within three hours of the original flight schedule, or cancellations due to force majeure.
For domestic flights, the new regulation increases compensation for delays over 5 hours from 600 baht to 1,200 baht and for flight cancellations from 1,200 baht to 1,500 baht. Airlines can also offer alternative forms of compensation. However, no compensation is required for cancellations caused by force majeure.
Protection for Passengers During Tarmac Delays
The new regulation also provides protection for passengers in the event of delays on the tarmac (delays on board the aircraft). Airlines must ensure adequate ventilation, temperature control, access to toilets and the availability of medical care. In the event of a delay of more than 3 hours without a scheduled departure, airlines must allow passengers to disembark unless this is prevented for safety or air traffic control reasons.
CAAT will continue to educate airlines and passengers on the new regulations to ensure effective compliance and maximize the benefits of these safeguards.
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