A review by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations body, raised questions about Thailand’s air-safety procedures that prompted Japan to restrict some Thai airline operations.
“The audit revealed some safety concerns, primarily relating to air operator certification procedures,” Anthony Philbin, a spokesman for Montreal-based ICAO, said Friday by e- mail, while declining to give details. The assessment was conducted in Thailand from Jan 19 to Jan 30, Mr Philbin said.
Thai officials shared their plan for corrective action with ICAO on March 2, and the agency is working with Thai aviation regulators on resolving the issues, Mr Philbin said.
Thailand’s Civil Aviation Department said on Thursday that Japan had cited the ICAO report in prohibiting Thai airlines from adding or changing flights. Thai Airways International president Charamporn Jotikasthira told reporters that Japan’s decision will affect the carrier’s plan to add five charter flights during the high-demand period in April.