While the PM expressed optimism, Transport Minister Akom Termpitaya-paisit said last week that 10 small |airlines may have to cease operations by September due to their poor safety management.

Thailand has been on the red-flag list since June 2015 when the ICAO |notified the aviation authorities that their supervision of the industry was substandard. The ICAO will evaluate Thailand’s aviation safety management again by September to make a decision on whether the red flag rating can be lifted, an official at the Transport Ministry said.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has re-examined safety management for the entire airline industry in recent years and awarded certification for some airlines. So far, six major airlines based here have got Air Operations Certificates (AOC) in recent months, Sansern said.

Main carriers cleared

These are the national carriers Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Nok Scoot and Thai AirAsia X, he said, noting that these airlines cover 80 per cent of Thailand’s international routes.

By September this year, the CAAT would be able to issue AOC certification for 12 airlines, he said.

The 10 airlines, which may not get certification, would have to cease their operations by September 1, Akom said last week. But that outcome would not pose a significant impact on Thailand’s aviation industry because they are mostly small operators, he said.

Prayut instructed the Transport Ministry to speedily enforce the plan to improve safety in the Thai aviation industry by the end of this month, enabling the ICAO to examine the work on schedule by September, Sansern said.

The aviation authority has followed guidelines suggested by the ICAO |to improve safety standards for the industry, he said, noting that the Cabinet has already endorsed a new aviation bill in order to have an up-to-date law to regulate aviation. The new law, if passed, would replace the 1954 aviation law, he said.

“The ICAO has praised the government’s efforts and progress to improve the country’s aviation safety in order to fix up the problems and build up confidence for the industry,” he said.

“Passengers’ safety is our priority.”