THAI aviation is facing a crisis after the UN’s industry watchdog raised “significant safety concerns” about the sector, spurring Japan and South Korea to curb new flights from a number of local operators.
The ICAO in January audited the local industry for the first time in a decade, with Thailand’s Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) reportedly only passing 21 of 100 requirements.
Thailand’s failure of ICAO’s audit and the barring of new charter flights to key destinations in the region will have a “tremendous impact” on business over the coming Thai New Year holiday, said Chotechuang Soorangura, associate managing director, NS Travel & Tours.
“(Some) 150,000 Thai passengers will be affected by the situation,” he said. “This doesn’t only impact Thais going overseas; charter flights normally need to fill up the seats for both inbound and outbound to be most cost-effective.
“Scheduled flights are also standing on the edge of a cliff. If the problem is not resolved soonest, the entire tourism industry will be hurt. Inbound will face another tough (price) war with fewer tourists coming in. This is a wake-up call for all authorities in Thai tourism to take action seriously and timely.”
Pornthip Hirunkate, vice president for marketing at Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), concurred ICAO’s decision would have a “colossal impact” on the Thai trade, adding that the aviation business requires long-term solutions for the issues raised, not quick fixes.
“This is a major travel period for Thais wanting to experience and explore (outbound) destinations,” she said. “With regards to inbound, both Japan and South Korea markets and other markets are not affected by these issues – it’s business as usual. TCT is actively taking the lead to find immediate resolutions to ease the situation.”
Meanwhile, Prayuth Chan-o-cha, Thailand’s prime minister, said he will invoke article 44 of the interim charter, essentially granting him absolute power over most aspects of government, to establish a new aviation body to work with DCA to resolve the problem.
Bangkok Post reported that Japan may ease its ban on new flights from Thai carriers, including Thai Airways International, NokScoot and Thai AirAsiaX, if the new authority proved effective.
In an official statement Thai AirAsiaX said it will “continue operating flights to Japan as usual as well as to South Korea and that its passengers will not be affected in any way”.
