Green flag for Thai airlines

BANGKOK, 16 October 2017” Thailand’s aviation industry heaved a sigh or relief, earlier this month, when the International Civil Aviation Organisation removed its red flag on the country’s safety and compliance standards.

A green flag opens the way for Thai airlines to once more add international services to countries that had earlier capped flight levels.

In truth, the country’s airlines were not strictly at fault. They had maintained high safety standards independently of government checks. The problem was government oversight, which proved to be shoddy. Read more

NGOs slam biofuels for airlines

BERLIN, 12 October Nearly 100 environmental and poverty fighting groups jointly released a letter Tuesday slamming a UN proposal that backs large-scale use of biofuels in commercial planes.

Extensive burning of biofuels would vastly expand the production of palm oil, which critics say drives deforestation, higher CO2 emissions and conflicts with indigenous peoples displaced from their land.

The UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) “vision” plan calls for 128 million tons of biofuels to be used in jet engines annually by 2040, going up to 285 million tons — half of all aviation fuel — by 2050. Read more

ICAO removes red flag

BANGKOK, 10 October 2017: The UN’s aviation agency has removed a safety “red flag” against Thailand civil aviation, the kingdom’s junta leader said Monday, in a major boost to the country’s stuttering airlines.

A 2015 audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of Thailand’s aviation compliance and management of regulations that govern airlines identified “significant safety concerns” prompting the downgrade.

That triggered restrictions on Thai carriers launching new international routes, cramping expansion plans for a sector that has in recent years laboured under debts and management woes. Read more

CAAT gets tough with Thai airlines

BANGKOK, 6 September 2017: Airlines based in Thailand that failed to secure recertification under Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) rules by its 1 September deadline have been ordered to suspend flights.

CAAT introduced stricter Air Operators Certification (AOCs), in accordance with requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

According to the CAAT nine airlines had been recertified when the deadline passed 1 September. Read more

CAAT green light for Thai airlines

BANGKOK, 26 July 2017: Thai Smile and Thai Lion Air has received AOC Re-Certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, last Thursday, that complies with ICAO’s standards.

CAAT’s general director, Chula Sukmanop, said Thai Smile and Thai Lion Air are the seventh and eighth carriers to be regain their AOCs, based on compliance guidelines issued by ICAO.

The first six re-certified airlines were Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways International, NokScoot, Thai AirAsia X and Nok Air. Read more

Thailand’s makes aviation progress

BANGKOK, 13 July 2017 (NNT): The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has acknowledged Thailand’s attempts to address red-flag security issues according to Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith,  the National News bureau of Thailand reported earlier this week.

The long-term objective is to develop the country as a major regional aviation hub.

He said an ICAO Asia-Pacific delegation acknowledged a progress report presented by Thai officials that addresses aviation security concerns raised by ICAO red flags. Read more

ICAO audit set for September

BANGKOK, 30 June 2017: Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has called the country’s civil aviation agency to speed up reforms and procedural upgrades to prepare for an ICAO inspection this September.

According to the Royal Thai Government website, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed satisfaction on progress made to resolve civil aviation short-comings that were identified by an International Civil Aviation Organisation audit in June 2015.

One of the first outcomes was the formation of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) that took over from the now defunct Department of Civil Aviation in October 2015. CAAT has re-certified six Thailand-based airlines so far since September 12, 2016, in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)’s standard and recommendations.   Read more

Nok gains recertification

BANGKOK, 28 June 2017: Nok Air received AOC Re-Certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, last Friday, that ensures the airline complies with ICAO’s standards.

Nok Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Patee Sarasin, said it was a significant step forward and ultimately the re-certification of all Thailand’s airlines would eliminate ICAO red flags that were placed on Thai-registered airlines wishing to operate new services, worldwide.

“We will continue to further develop and enhance our flight operations, training programmes, maintenance arrangements… Most important of all, the continued safety of our passengers remains, as always, a top priority,” the airline chief commented. Read more

Qatar Air: Business as usual

DOHA, QATAR, 15 June 2017: Qatar Airways’ operations to and from its Doha hub are running smoothly, despite what it calls an illegal blockade of its air space by GCC neighbours.

In the past week, the airline flew approximately 1,200 flights between Doha and its network of more than 150 destinations worldwide, with 90% of those flights departing within 15 minutes of their scheduled departure time.

In the coming months, that network will continue to grow. On Monday, the airline launched direct service to Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Read more

Thai AirAsia first low-cost airline to recertify.

BANGKOK, 24 April 2017: Thai AirAsia has received AOC Re-Certification of its ICAO standard from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, last week.

Minister of Transport, Arkhom Termpittayapaisit, chaired the presentation joined by Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand director general, Chula Sukmanop. Read more

Next Page »