Airlines In Thailand Face Bans Over Safety Concerns

[Sick Water Buffalo]

From today's New York Times...

 

 

 

Airlines in Thailand Face Bans Over Safety Concerns

 

BANGKOK — Thailand’s airlines are facing bans on new international flights and more inspections after the International Civil Aviation Organization flagged significant concerns about the country’s aviation safety, officials said on Friday.

 

The designation of Thailand as a “significant safety concern” has not been announced publicly by the aviation group, a United Nations agency, but governments were informed last week. Japan has blocked new flights from Thailand since the decision, and South Korea is considering similar measures, officials said. Existing flights are not affected.

 

Thailand is one of the world’s top destinations, and its tourism industry is crucial to the economy, employing millions. The disruptions come ahead of Thailand’s new year holiday, known as Songkran, a heavy travel season when airlines typically add flights. Among the airlines forced to cancel flights are the low-cost carriers Thai AirAsia X, NokScoot and Asia Atlantic Airline, Thailand’s Department of Civil Aviation said in a statement. The flagship carrier, Thai Airways, is also affected.

 

Jarumporn Chotikasathein, the president of Thai Airways, said the airline would have to cancel “about five” charter flights planned for the April holiday schedule. He said his airline and other Thai carriers would also undergo increased inspections by regulators from other countries as a result of the group’s designation. The Thai ministry did not give details of the group’s concerns or recommendations, but said it planned to inform countries about the status of Thailand’s aviation safety and “the solutions to fix the faults that were found in the inspection as soon as possible.”

 

Thailand was audited by the group in January; its previous assessment was in 2005. The aviation group’s office in Bangkok referred questions to its headquarters in Montreal, which could not immediately be reached for comment. Kwak Young-pil, an official from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in South Korea, said on Friday that the United Nations group made the designation on March 20.

 

Audits assess a country’s ability to ensure aviation safety in areas like staff licensing and training, airworthiness, and accident investigation, according to a report by Watson Farley & Williams, an international law firm with a commercial transportation practice. The Civil Aviation Bureau of Japan informed its Thai counterpart by email this week that it would not allow new charter flights operated by carriers registered in Thailand to fly to Japanese airports. Noriaki Umezawa, a spokesman for the bureau, said the temporary measure was issued because of concerns that the airlines may not meet international safety standards.

 

The Japanese ban covers any “change of aviation services,” the Thai civil aviation department said, and also bars airlines from changing the type of aircraft normally used on scheduled routes. South Korea said it was considering a similar ban. Mr. Kwak, the transportation official, said it was highly unlikely that new flights would be approved. NokScoot had been planning to start flights to Seoul’s main airport, Incheon, in May. Mr. Kwak said flights currently operating between Thailand and South Korea would not be affected.

 

Probably a good idea not to book any of the affected Thai carriers for international flights for the time being, on the chance they might get cancelled?

[nixonsbest]

From today's New York Times...

 

 

Probably a good idea not to book any of the affected Thai carriers for international flights for the time being, on the chance they might get cancelled?

If I am reading it correctly it only effects new routes and new charted flights, not existing!  I doubt the existing flight routes would be cancelled for safety, else they would have done it by now..

[strawberrypi]

Why would existing flights be safe and new flights unsafe?
 

Rather, it seems to be a way of applying pressure to the government of Thailand and its airlines to get its shit together (good luck), before facing further sanctions. 

[Sick Water Buffalo]

 

Six airlines hold off on Japan tickets

 

Six airlines have been ordered not to promote or sell any flights to Japan after May 31 in case the flights are cancelled due to safety concerns.

 

Japan agreed to allow Thai-registered airlines to resume flights to Japan from Saturday, running until May 31.

 

Whether flights to Japan are allowed after May 31 depends on whether the Thai airlines in question can improve safety standards in time.

 

The six airlines operate scheduled and charter flights to Japan and consist of Thai Airways International (THAI), NokScoot, Asian Air, Jet Asia, Asia Atlantic Airlines and AirAsia X.

 

Japan imposed a temporary ban on the six Thai airlines over aviation safety concerns raised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

 

The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has to send the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau a copy of the action plan it is preparing to resubmit to the ICAO after the first one was rejected.

 

Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith chaired an urgent meeting Monday between the DCA and the six airlines.

 

He said the airlines are being asked to strictly follow regulations on aviation safety standards, particularly the state of the aircraft, their aircraft maintenance plan and the readiness of pilots and flight crews.

 

These measures are aimed at preventing any safety issues from happening again.

 

If the measures are not implemented, Thai-registered airlines may end up having to undergo more checks upon arrival in Japan, he said.

 

"We're stepping up inspections of aviation standards at Thai airports. All airlines are now required to conduct self-checks before flying. The DCA plans to increase the volume of inspections, especially on charter flights, to make sure there aren't any problems when the planes reach their destinations," Mr Arkhom said.

 

The airlines were also urged, for the time being, to delay preparing marketing and sales plans regarding flights to Japan after May 31, he said.

 

The airlines must wait for the DCA and the government to resolve the ICAO matter, or else they may end up having to cancel their plans later on, Mr Arkhom said.

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered all parties to ensure that no new technical problems arise that could affect flight operations.

 

His instructions came after NokScoot and Asian Air, two of the six airlines concerned, had to abruptly cancel at least three flights to Japan, scheduled for Saturday and tomorrow, due to a lack of preparation.

 

More than 500 passengers were affected by the cancellations.

 

"Although only two airlines had problems, the prime minister said such problems should not occur again because they have disrupted so many people's travel plans," said deputy government spokesman Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd Monday.

 

Chief executive officer of NokScoot Piya Yodmanee said the airline had cancelled 42 out of its 86 flights scheduled to fly to Japan this month and next month.

 

Department of Civil Aviation director-general Somchai Phiphutthawat said the flights were cancelled because the carriers either didn't have an aircraft available or could not meet ICAO standards for pilot service time.

 

So again, probably a good idea not to book any Thai carriers to/from international destinations until this entire situation is settled. 

[kikielee]

"its previous assessment was in 2005" ?? 

[The Sperminator]

The Thai flight from London was delayed 10 hours the other day TG911 reason given by Tha aircraft defect.

The next days flight from Bangkok to London 01:10 TG910 was also delayed reason given by Thai aircraft defect,diffrent aircraft fron the delayed London flght.

[storytime]

Already booked Thai airways for June.

[The Sperminator]

Already booked Thai airways for June.

I not to worried i fly with them LHR/BKK in two weeks tme, bit of gaffer tape should keep them in the air for the next few weeks.