International flights grounded for 12 Thai airlines companies

Twelve airlines registered in Thailand will have their international flights terminated pending an International Civil Aviation Organization inspection to free-up their Red Flag status.

Twelve airlines have failed safety and related regulatory assessments conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), requiring them to suspend operations abroad until they get new Air Operator’s Certificates (AOCs). Domestic flights still operate as normal.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), 12 airlines that have not been granted Air Operator Certificates (AOC) will have to terminate international flight operations until the completion of the International Civil Aviation Organizations (ICAO) inspection.

Shortage of qualified personnel and tourists arrivals on the rise

Thailand has faced a shortage of qualified personnel and training officials regarding aviation and safety issues following years of a boom in the aviation and tourism sectors.

The number of foreign tourists has increased rapidly over past decades to about 30 million this year.

The airlines that failed to pass international safety standards include low-cost domestic carriers such as Orient Thai Airlines, Thai VietJet Air and Siam Air Transport. The rest – mostly private charter jet and cargo carriers – are Mjets, K-Mile Air, Jet Asia Airways, AC Aviation, Siam Land Flying, Asia Atlantic Airlines, VIP Jets, H.S. Aviation, Advance Aviation and Skyview Airways.

Until today, 9 airlines in Thailand have passed the ICAOs strict Recertification Inspection regime and can now resume normal operations.

These include Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, NokScoot, NokAir, Thai Smile Airways, Lion Air and Sabaidee or New Gen Airways.