Thai PM calls for action after airline safety rating downgrade
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered aviation officials to quickly resolve problems with air safety standards after the US Federal Aviation Administration downgraded Thailand’s safety rating.
FAA inspectors said Thailand no longer met ‘minimum international standards’ resulting in a downgrade from Category 1 to 2.
It did not disclose the specifics, but said the Department of Civil Aviation was ‘deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping or inspection procedures’.
Earlier this year the International Civil Aviation Organisation also downgraded Thai aviation for a lack of qualified technical officers.
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said the lower rating would not affect connectivity as no Thai carrier now flies to the US, but admitted confidence in Thai aviation standards could be hit.
“There is an impact in terms of sentiment. We do need to meet international standards,” he said.
Patee Sarasin, chairman of low-cost carrier Nok Airlines, said the ruling would have little material impact on the airline’s business but would affect the country’s reputation.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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