newstodate.aero
Feb 16, 2016 (newstodate): Thailand is expected to delay the next ICAO inspection of its commercial aviation sector.
The country was downgraded in June 2015 due to lack of compliance with key safety regulations, and the US CAA put Thailand in Category II by December 2015, barring the country's airlines from setting up new routes to USA.
In response to the downgrading, Thailand has established a comprehensive set of new safety guidelines, but will need time for training of inspectors to monitor the country's commercial airlines before the country can regain the ICAO green flag following a full inspection.
Rather than November 2016, the deadline for a fresh ICAO inspection has now been postponed till H1, 2017.
The uncertainty around safety in Thailand's aviation causes foreign airlines to put plans on hold, including the Lithuanian leisure carrier Small Planet Airlines that has long aired intentions of entering the Thai market.
-We are determined to proceed with the project for setting up a subsidiary in Thailand, but it will take longer time, Vytautas Kaikaris, Small Planet Airlines CEO,told newstodate in September 2015.
As earlier announced, Small Planet Airlines Group plans to acquire an AOC in Thailand allowing it to set up Small Planet Thailand alongside its Lithuanian carrier Small Planet Airlines, in the air since 2007, Small Planet Airlines Poland added in 2009, and Small Planet Airlines Germany that launched business in Autumn 2015.
The country was downgraded in June 2015 due to lack of compliance with key safety regulations, and the US CAA put Thailand in Category II by December 2015, barring the country's airlines from setting up new routes to USA.
In response to the downgrading, Thailand has established a comprehensive set of new safety guidelines, but will need time for training of inspectors to monitor the country's commercial airlines before the country can regain the ICAO green flag following a full inspection.
Rather than November 2016, the deadline for a fresh ICAO inspection has now been postponed till H1, 2017.
The uncertainty around safety in Thailand's aviation causes foreign airlines to put plans on hold, including the Lithuanian leisure carrier Small Planet Airlines that has long aired intentions of entering the Thai market.
-We are determined to proceed with the project for setting up a subsidiary in Thailand, but it will take longer time, Vytautas Kaikaris, Small Planet Airlines CEO,told newstodate in September 2015.
As earlier announced, Small Planet Airlines Group plans to acquire an AOC in Thailand allowing it to set up Small Planet Thailand alongside its Lithuanian carrier Small Planet Airlines, in the air since 2007, Small Planet Airlines Poland added in 2009, and Small Planet Airlines Germany that launched business in Autumn 2015.