The Ministry of Commerce has arranged with four airlines to allow passengers to carry a maximum of 20 kilograms of fresh fruit on individual flights free of charge.
The measure is intended to help reduce the surplus of fresh fruit currently being produced, and bolster prices in the domestic market.
Deputy Prime Minister/Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit visited an assistance project for fruit growers at Surat Thani airport, following the conclusion of MOUs between the Ministry of Commerce and the airlines, namely Thai Smile, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air and Air Asia.
Each airline passenger is allowed to carry a maximum of 20 kilos of fresh fruit on a flight free of charge. However, the fruit is to be fully contained and sealed in packages prepared by the Department of Internal Trade in accordance with aviation rules. There are five-kilogram packs and 10-kilogram packs which are available to air passengers at no cost at the public relations counters of all those airlines.
The Commerce Minister said today the measure will be provided for fruit in all seasons and officials will assess the quantities of fruit to be distributed with the help of the airlines. He is scheduled to visit Longkong markets in southern border provinces on August 31 and September 1. He also plans to apply the measure to assist fruit growers, at both Hat Yai and Narathiwat
