The head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) on Tuesday held talks with airline representatives on partial resumption of international services.

"Priority will be given to business trips, with tourists from paired "travel bubble" countries being allowed in later, said CAAT director-general Chula Sukmanop, adding that investors are financially ready to absorb costs related to the COVID-19 control measures such as a quarantine program.

Chula said he had discussed with all airlines which operate international flights to ready themselves with stringent measures implemented by the CAAT, the Public Health Ministry and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"These measures include social distancing on planes and at airports, guidelines for inflight food services and quarantine areas aboard planes for passengers who fall sick during flights," Chula said.

The CAAT director said that, in case international flights are resumed, the first group of passengers are likely to be businessmen and investors, who are believed to capable of absorbing expenses at their destination countries in case they have to be quarantined or become sick and need medical treatment.

Tourist travel, under the "Travel Bubble" scheme, will have to wait until the next stage, he said.

Infections among Thais returning from abroad have accounted for all of the new infections in Thailand for the past three weeks.

Currently, both out-bound and in-bound international flights are suspended to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.