Thai Airways Reopens Cargo for Ornamental Animals and Medicinal Herbs—What Breeders and Exporters Must Know

The Thailand Ministry of Transport has reached an agreement with Thai Airways to end restrictions on airfreight exports of ornamental livestock and medicinal herbal products. The policy change is expected to generate substantial foreign currency revenue and support the national carrier's recovery from recent restructuring.

Why This Matters:

• Export access restored: Breeders of fighting cocks, ornamental fish, and rare birds can now ship directly via Thai Airways to Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia—markets where individual animals fetch hundreds of thousands to millions of baht.

• Herbal products cleared for takeoff: Traditional Thai medicinal herbs are now approved for international air cargo, unlocking a market currently valued in the billions of baht annually.

• Economic strategy: The initiative aims to boost competitiveness for Thai exporters and stabilize Thai Airways ahead of its expected return to normal operations in mid-2025.

What Changed and Why It Matters

For years, Thai breeders faced a significant obstacle: while demand for premium livestock—including Siamese fighting fish (betta), red-whiskered bulbuls, Javanese doves, and fighting cocks—surged across Southeast Asia, Thai Airways imposed cargo restrictions that forced shippers to rely on foreign carriers. This logistical hurdle eroded Thailand's competitiveness in a niche but lucrative sector.

Thailand's regulatory system requires coordination between transport, health, and commerce authorities—a process that historically created bottlenecks and delays. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn convened a high-level meeting in Bangkok with officials from the Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Commerce, and Thai Airways International to resolve the impasse. Following the talks, Thai Airways formally agreed to accept live animal cargo under strict protocols: specialized onboard handling, precise time coordination, mandatory vaccination records, and quarantine compliance designed to protect animal welfare and prevent disease transmission.

Critical Practical Requirements for Exporters

For breeders and farmers exporting livestock:

• Weight limits: Combined animal and cage weight must not exceed 70 kg for general cargo; 32 kg for checked baggage (AVIH) on select routes. Consignments over 70 kg require freight handling.

• Booking timeline: Complete bookings 48 to 72 hours before departure.

• Documentation required: State-approved veterinary certificates, rabies vaccination proof, microchip registration, and valid import/export permits. Animals must be at least four months old, healthy, and non-pregnant.

• Route restrictions: Checked animal baggage (AVIH) is not permitted on flights to Auckland, Denpasar, Dubai, Hong Kong, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, or Sydney, nor on A320 aircraft.

• Breed restrictions: Thai Airways does not accept American Staffordshire Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, or Staffordshire Bull Terriers on any flights. Brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds and certain other dogs deemed dangerous are prohibited as checked baggage due to respiratory safety concerns.

For herbal product exporters:

• Regulatory compliance: Products must comply with Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and FDA regulations. Flowers and raw materials fall under MOPH/DTAM oversight; seeds require Department of Agriculture (DOA) permits; extracts or finished goods need FDA clearance.

• Application process: Contact Thai Airways cargo department directly; an English-language export guide is available through the Thai Airways Cargo Customer Service website and hotline (contact details available through Thai Airways International customer relations).

For travelers and consumers: If carrying medicinal herbs or supplements internationally, stay within the 30 to 90-day personal consumption limit depending on product category. Cannabis and hemp-based health products remain prohibited for personal import.

How This Supports Thai Airways and the Economy

The cargo expansion is part of Thai Airways' broader recovery plan following recent restructuring. The airline has invested in fleet modernization, adding freighter aircraft and upgrading passenger planes with enhanced cargo capacity. The carrier is also launching new freight routes including Bangkok to New York direct cargo flights and expanded service to London and ASEAN hubs. These investments position the airline to capture growing demand for air cargo services in Southeast Asia as e-commerce and supply chain demands increase.

For Thailand's export economy—which represents roughly 58% of GDP—airfreight is essential for high-value, lightweight, time-sensitive goods such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, fresh produce, seafood, jewelry, and live animals, where speed justifies the significantly higher cost compared to sea freight. The livestock and herbal sectors represent niche but profitable segments within this broader cargo market.

Unlocking the Ornamental Animal Trade

The economic stakes are substantial. Individual specimens of rare breeding stock can command prices ranging from several hundred thousand baht to multiple millions, particularly when destined for breeding programs or competitions in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. These three nations represent the core regional export markets for Thai ornamental livestock, with established networks of breeders and enthusiasts.

Individual specimens of rare breeds can command prices ranging from several hundred thousand baht to multiple millions, particularly when destined for breeding programs or competitions in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. These three nations represent the core regional export markets for Thai ornamental livestock, with established networks of breeders and enthusiasts.

Direct access to Thai Airways cargo services eliminates the need to book through foreign carriers, reducing logistical friction and potentially lowering shipping costs for breeders. However, execution depends on meeting Thai Airways' rigorous cargo standards and maintaining full compliance with veterinary regulations and Thai customs requirements.

Medicinal Herbs Regain Flight Status

Parallel to the livestock breakthrough, Thai Airways has lifted restrictions on traditional Thai medicinal herbal products that had limited their availability on certain international routes. The policy reversal followed inter-agency coordination involving the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Public Health, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Thailand's herbal and botanical export sector generates substantial revenue annually, encompassing everything from packaged supplements to raw plant materials used in traditional medicine. The airfreight restrictions had forced exporters to either use alternative carriers or switch to slower sea freight, undermining Thailand's reputation as a reliable supplier of time-sensitive botanical products. The reopened routes now offer faster delivery times for temperature-sensitive or perishable botanical goods.

Note that cannabis and kratom remain tightly regulated: kratom may be carried in limited quantities for personal use without a commercial license, while cannabis export without proper permits can result in serious penalties. Thai authorities have intensified enforcement against unauthorized cannabis shipments entering 2026.

Practical Considerations and Next Steps

Temperature restrictions: During the March to May hot season, Thai Airways reserves the right to refuse transport if weather conditions pose safety risks.

Key takeaway for residents: If you're engaged in livestock breeding or herbal product export, the practical action items are straightforward: book early, prepare documentation meticulously, and ensure full compliance with veterinary and pharmaceutical regulations. Contact Thai Airways cargo services directly to confirm current rates, available routes, and any specific requirements for your product category. Many questions can be answered through their customer service channels, though complex permitting questions may require consultation with a customs broker or export trade association familiar with current Thai regulations.

The broader narrative is one of regulatory streamlining in service of export competitiveness—a calculated effort to capture niche markets where speed, reliability, and biosecurity protocols justify airfreight premiums. For exporters with established networks in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia, the timing aligns with growing regional demand for premium breeding stock and authentic Thai herbal products.