Asia safety oversight in crisis - Curt Lewis

Thai in a bind

America downgrades Thailand's air-safety rating

THE Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), America's air regulator, has ruled that Thailand does not comply with international aviation safety standards. The FAA downgraded Thailand's aviation authority from a "Category 1" to "Category 2" rating, meaning:

that the country either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, or its civil aviation authority [...] is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping, or inspection procedures.
The FAA's decision, which means that airlines from the country are allowed to continue to fly existing routes between Thailand and America but not launch new services, is not likely immediately to have a big impact on the flag carrier, Thai Airways-it no longer flies to America, having ditched its Los Angeles service earlier this year. It would, though, prevent it from expanding code-share services with other American carriers.

But much more troubling for Thai Airways is the likelihood that European regulators will follow America's lead. The European Aviation Safety Agency is due to announce the results of its own audit later this month. The carrier flies to 11 European destinations, on which it relies for much of its revenue. The news comes as Thai has started to inch back into the black after several years of heavy losses. As part of a big restructuring plan it has begun to overhaul its fleet and is looking to increase transit traffic, particularly between Australia and Europe.