Thai airlines in trouble

In recent days has started a wave of mistrust towards Thai airlines. Safety concerns were raised by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Japan banned any new flight of a Thai company before South Korea and now China also banned any new flight addition from thai airlines.

This movement is the result of a report by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations body, which reported “significant safety concerns” after an audit conducted earlier this year.

Few details have emerged about the specific points raised by ICAO. According to Reuters, it is essentially a problem about the issue of operator certificates to carriers by the Thai authority. According to the Minister of Transport in Thailand, “The ICAO has warned us since 2005 about our aviation management and asked us to improve our systems” “I understand we have to improve urgently.”

Anyway if all existing flights are maintained, adding new rotation to Japan, South Korea and China is suspended until further notice. A situation that according to the Ministry of Transport in Thailand should be settled within the next 8 months. It is not impossible that other countries will join the list in the coming days.

This should significantly impact tourism in Thailand because it occurs 2 weeks before Songkran, the Thai New Year which usually attracts many visitors.

If it is mainly low-cost airlines, like Thai Air Asia and Nok Scoot which are concerned by the ban, it seems that even Thai Airways would be impacted.

But traveling with a Thai company is really risky for your safety ? I’m no expert. But I can just tell you that personally, I had no problems whatsoever with Nok Air, Air Asia, Thai Airways or Bangkok Airways, the four companies I used. And if I remember correctly, there only was 2 or 3 minor incidents on landing concerning Thai airlines during the last two years.

It is up to you but as for me to fly in Thailand, seems less “risky” than travel by train, bus or minivan or even (and especially) by renting a car. And this is obviously faster … and more expensive.

PS: the company Nok Scoot communicates regularly on the subject, on this page: www.nokscoot.com/en/announcement-charterflight-en