The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has threatened to suspend or revoke the aviation licences of Thai-registered airlines which abruptly cancel their flights, causing passenger inconvenience.
The move came after at least two Thai-registered charter flights to Japan on Saturday and one planned for this Wednesday were cancelled. The airlines cited concerns over Thai aviation standards raised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith will call airlines to a meeting today to ensure that abrupt cancellations don't happen again.
Those who will attend the meeting include the executives of the DCA and five airlines which have flights, particularly charter flights, to Japan. The airlines are Thai Airways International Plc, Asia Atlantic Airlines, Nok Scoot, Asian Air, and Jet Asia.
Nok Scoot and Asian Air had told passengers they cancelled two departures on Saturday. Asian Air cancelled another one for this Wednesday, citing the fact that Japan had not approved the flights following the DCA standards problem.
More than 500 passengers have had their holiday plans disrupted as a result.
DCA director-general Somchai Piputvut said the flight cancellations inconvenienced passengers and tour agencies and also hurt confidence in the Thai tourism industry and aviation industry.
"We want to ensure such cancellations would not happen again. Airlines must have a clear plan to prevent such problems. Penalty measures will be imposed on those that abruptly cancel their flights, affecting passengers. Steps could include suspending or revoking aviation licences," said Mr Somchai.
He said the DCA is considering imposing fines for such mistakes as well.
He added the cancellations resulted from problems with the DCA's operating standards.
He said Asian Air cancelled its flights because the DCA found its pilots lacked enough rest, based on their flight schedules.
The DCA asked the airline to solve the problem but it failed to do so in time. Nok Scoot failed to prepare pilots and crew for the Saturday flight so it cancelled it.