On 4 October 2026, Thailand's Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) restated that passengers on delayed or cancelled flights are covered by Civil Aviation Board Regulation No. 101. The reminder followed the Thai Airways delays at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, but the rules apply to every airline on the flights they cover. Our Thailand team lists every threshold in its briefing on Thailand's flight delay rules. Here we look at what the rules mean for an agent moving a group.
What the Rules Give a Delayed Passenger
As reported by The Nation on 4 October:
- Domestic flights. Food and drinks or vouchers after two hours; the choice of a refund or another flight after three; and 1,200 baht in cash, or travel credit or vouchers, after five.
- International flights from Thailand. Food and drinks or vouchers after two hours; 1,500 baht in cash and a hotel where needed after five; and 2,000 to 4,500 baht by distance after eleven.
- Cancellation or denied boarding. Meals, a room if the new flight leaves more than a day later, and 1,500 baht in cash, with the choice of a refund or another flight.
The international rules have covered flights departing Thailand since 20 May 2025. When they took effect, CAAT said airlines are exempt from compensation for adverse weather, aircraft malfunctions or other circumstances beyond their control.
What Stays With the Agent
The rules protect the passenger and the ticket. They do not cover the ground programme:
- Cash goes to each passenger. On a group, any compensation is paid to the travellers, not to the agent or the tour operator.
- The ground plan still moves. A late arrival still needs the transfer re-timed, the guide moved and the first-night room held.
- Refunds take time. Under an April 2026 agreement between CAAT and Thailand's consumer protection office, airlines are to refund within 14 days for cash, 45 days for credit cards and 60 days for bookings through an online travel agency.
On a Multi-Country Programme
Thailand's international rule covers flights leaving Thailand. The flight into Thailand, and every leg between our other destinations, falls under the rules where that flight departs and the airline's own conditions. Check those for each leg before you brief the group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Thai rule covers flight delays?
Civil Aviation Board Regulation No. 101 on passenger rights on domestic and international scheduled flights, enforced by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.
Who receives the compensation on a group booking?
Each passenger. The rules protect the traveller and the ticket, so the ground programme still has to absorb a late arrival.
Do Thailand's rules cover the flight into Thailand?
No. The international rule covers flights departing Thailand. The inbound flight falls under the rules where it departs and the airline's own conditions.
Where Explera Fits
We plan programmes across our destinations: Thailand, Japan, Korea, the Maldives and New Zealand. When a flight is delayed, our ground teams re-time transfers and hold rooms so the programme can continue.
Write to b2b@expleradmc.com or message +66 93 656 8090 on WhatsApp. Explera DMC is IATA TIDS-registered (96215733) and an ASTA member (900408341). Explera Thailand holds TAT licence No. 14/05119.
