Charter flight departs for Thailand as restrictions ease
Travelers pose at the Pudong airport on Tuesday before boarding a Spring Airlines' charter flight to Bangkok.
Spring Airlines operated the first charter flight from Shanghai to Bangkok on Tuesday after a three-month ban on foreign visitors was partially lifted in Thailand in July.
Thirty-one Thai citizens and 21 Chinese staff of a Chinese company in Thailand took Flight 9C8579 from Pudong International Airport to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
All foreigners, except those with work permits, had been barred from entering Thailand since March. After more than five weeks with no recorded community transmission of the virus, Thailand is allowing entry to some groups of foreigners.
Business travelers, diplomats and government officials staying for less than 14 days are considered "fast-track travelers" who will be swab tested for COVID-19 at the Suvarnabhumi airport to ensure they are infection-free before entry.
Thailand on Monday reported five new coronavirus infections, all imported. Total COVID-19 cases in the country are now 3,195; death toll remained unchanged at 58.
