Thailand's aviation industry, from pilots to engineers, is gearing up for a grand reopening on Monday, when the tourism-dependent country can accept immunized arrivals without isolation, putting an end to almost 19 months of tight entry requirements.
"It is indeed something that everyone is anticipating," said Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, head of the Thai airline association, which includes Thai VietJet Air, Thai Smile Airways, and Thai AirAsia.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said earlier this month that beginning in November, inoculated arrivals from 46 nations will be permitted to enter without quarantine.
Airlines reacted swiftly, bringing planes back from hibernation, or long-term parking, where they were stored with their engines covered for protection and systems turned off.
"It is ingrained in our DNA; it is simple to reintroduce and reestablish," Thai AirAsia Head of Engineering Banyat Hansakul said of the practice of prepping the planes. "It's comparable to riding a bicycle."
Thai AirAsia has already been operating 10 of its 60 jets, while Bangkok Airways was operating 13 of its 38 planes, primarily for local travel following a pilot scheme that reopened Samui and Phuket islands in July.
The two airlines anticipate increased traffic from neighboring Singapore, Cambodia and Malaysia in the coming months as pandemic restrictions are loosened.
Thai Airways International Pcl, Thailand's flag carrier, has announced a winter schedule that includes flights from Bangkok to London, Sydney, Munich, and Tokyo.
Despite being tempered by the fact that other countries are still observing quarantine measures, Thai AirAsia pilot Wirote Teerawattananon, 30, said he was happy with the number of tourists arriving.
"I'm relieved to be able to travel again; tourists are returning, which means we can get back to work," he remarked.
Thailand received approximately 40 million foreign visitors in 2019. This year, the government intends to target only 100,000 people.
COVID-19 is said to have cost Thailand, one of Asia's most prominent tourist destinations, $50 billion in annual tourism earnings. Additionally, its airlines have faced significant losses.
Thai Airways and its low-cost subsidiary Nok Air Pcl are restructured in a bankruptcy-protected manner. Another airline, NokScoot, filed for bankruptcy last year.
"I'm particularly looking forward to the return of foreigners," said Kohchamon Pithayapipat, a Thai AirAsia crew member.
