The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has launched an investigation into allegations that airlines cancelled passengers’ bookings and resold the same seats at significantly higher prices on the Bangkok-Hat Yai route as southern provinces battle severe flooding.

The probe follows orders from both the prime minister and the transport minister after public complaints circulated online.

The CAAT stressed that all domestic airfares are legally capped, and airlines are prohibited from selling tickets above the maximum allowable rate. Any carrier found to have overcharged passengers or taken advantage of the situation will face strict legal action, the agency said in its statement.

The regulator also warned that some of the highly inflated fares were sold through foreign online travel agencies (OTAs), which lie outside its supervision. Travellers were advised to book directly with airlines to ensure prices comply with Thai regulations.

The issue gained national attention after Udon Thani MP Watcharapol Khaokam publicly criticised soaring airfares on his Facebook page, citing flights priced at 6,600-7,700 baht during the height of the flood crisis.

“A flight from Bangkok to Osaka costs only around 4,000-5,000 baht, but this is just Hat Yai-Bangkok. It’s really too much,” Mr Watcharapol wrote, calling the fares “unreasonable” at a time when people were suffering.  

He urged that the situation be viewed through a humanitarian lens and called on the Transport Ministry, as the regulator of civil aviation, to coordinate urgently with airlines to bring fares down.

“I will raise the issue in the extraordinary parliamentary session on December 10-11 if no progress is made,” the Uthai Thani MP said.

He also noted rising prices on long-distance bus routes and called on the ministry to coordinate with all transport operators — airlines, bus companies and cargo providers — to ease the burden on flood-affected residents.