An Asian Air aircraft has been banned from taking off from U-Tapao airport in Rayong after the Central Bankruptcy Court ordered a freeze of the airline's assets, aviation authorities say.
Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) acting director Chula Sukmanop said the aircraft was scheduled to leave the navy-owned airport yesterday to pick up passengers in Macau and fly on to the Philippines.
He said the CAAT's ban was issued after it received a notification from the bankruptcy court. Mr Chula said no passengers were left stranded as it was due to fly empty to pick up the passengers.
He said the agency found the airline has unpaid debts and is being sued by its maintenance service provider for bankruptcy. The airline may face having its operating licence revoked if it is found to be not in a financial position to run a business.
Normally, the aviation authority has no immediate access to information about an airline's debts, he said. Based on the court's order, Cargo Aircraft Management Inc, which provides maintenance services, has filed a lawsuit against Asian Air for bankruptcy allegedly over unpaid bills. The aircraft was scheduled to leave at 9am yesterday. It was due to pick up 200 passengers in Macau.