First repatriation flights for Thais to return home

During 17-19 April 2020, Team Thailand in the U.S., led by the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C. and Royal Thai Consulates-General in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, facilitated the first repatriation flights back to the Kingdom for more than 400 Thais stranded in the U.S. because of travel restrictions due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

The returnees, most of whom were teenagers on exchange programs, flew back to Thailand on three repatriation flights organized in accordance with Royal Thai Government’s “leaving no one behind” policy. The largest group traveled on a charter flight arranged under the Acquisition and Cross-Service Agreement (ACSA) between the defense authorities of both countries with the support of the Royal Thai Army. This endeavor is yet another tangible example of the wide-ranging ties of friendship and cooperation between Thailand and the U.S., treaty partners since 1833.