Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has called a meeting with representatives from 41 Thai-registered airlines in the wake of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decision to downgrade Thailand's airline safety standards rating.
The meeting will be held Friday at Kesakomol House, the official residence of the army chief, said government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd. The meeting will focus on aviation safety standards, he said, adding the timeframe before the industry could become re-certified would also be discussed.
The FAA demoted Thailand's safety standards status from Category I to Category II on Tuesday, effectively preventing any Thai airline from flying to the United States.
The category suggests the country lacks the necessary laws or regulations to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, according to the FAA.
While the ban on US flights will have no immediate effect on the aviation industry since no Thai airlines fly directly to North America anyway, it also prohibits the launch of any new routes.
The downgrade comes only six months after the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) red-flagged Thailand over safety concerns when the now-defunct Department of Civil Aviation failed to meet a 90-day deadline to reform businesses and air operator certification processes.
Meanwhile, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will announce the results of its audit of Thai aviation safety standards next Thursday. Louis Moser, chairman of the Airline Operators Committee (AOC), has played down concerns over the EASA audit.
He said the audit focuses only on Thai airlines which fly to Europe, particularly Thai Airways International (THAI) and Mjets. The two operators had also requested the EASA audit.
Mr Moser said he is convinced the EASA will not ban Thai airlines operating flights to Europe.
Director of the Office of Civil Aviation, Chula Sukmanop, admitted Thursday that his office is still short of officers needed to examine and issue certifications for the airlines' operations.
Efforts are being made to hire foreign experts from recognised institutes in the UK to take care of the issue, he said. The foreign experts would also conduct training for office staff.
"The preparation of this manpower could take quite some time," said Mr Chula, who is also the director-general of the Airport Department.
Meanwhile, asked if he was concerned about the EASA audit, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said authorities have done their best to address the problems.
THAI president Charamporn Jotikasthira said the national carrier's executives have prepared contingency plans to cope with the EASA audit results, though they may not totally compensate for damage that could arise from the downgrade.
According to another THAI source, if EASA decides to downgrade Thailand's aviation status and ban Thai airlines from flying to Europe, the impact would be more severe than the FAA's downgrading.
