BANGKOK- Thailand’s aviation industry received a significant boost as the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) upgraded the country’s safety rating from Category 2 to Category 1.
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit announced on Tuesday that the FAA’s website now lists Thailand among nations that comply with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety standards.
Photo: Clément AlloingThailand-US Flights to Resume
The upgrade allows Thai airlines to resume or expand flight routes between Thailand and the United States. This development creates more travel options for Thai passengers, including diverse flight routes, schedules, and potentially competitive airfares.
Thai pilots will also gain access to expanded job opportunities with international airlines that previously rejected them due to Thailand’s Category 2 status.
International tourists can now have greater confidence in Thailand’s aviation safety standards, which supports the country’s tourism industry through improved travel options.
Minister Suriya explained that the FAA conducted a review of Thai aviation standards with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand last November. Through exchanges that took place March 10-12, the FAA confirmed that Thailand had successfully addressed previous safety concerns.
Reports from 2015, when Thailand was downgraded, indicated that the deficiencies related to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand’s ability to effectively enforce technical and safety regulations.
Photo: Clément AlloingHistory of Thailand-US Air Service
The history of direct flights between Thailand and the United States dates back several decades. Thai Airways International first established direct service to the United States in the 1980s, operating flights to Los Angeles and later adding New York as a destination. These routes used various aircraft, including DC-10s, Airbus A340s, and Boeing 777s, over the years.
However, the 2015 FAA downgrade to Category 2 severely restricted Thai carriers’ ability to serve the US market. During this period, Thai Airways was unable to add new flights or change aircraft on existing US routes, though existing services could continue operating.
Before the downgrade, Thai Airways had operated the only direct flights between Thailand and the United States. Eventually, the airline discontinued its remaining US services due to a combination of the FAA restrictions and route profitability challenges. This left travelers relying entirely on connecting flights through other Asian or Middle Eastern hubs when traveling between Thailand and the US.
Photo: AirbusCurrent Market Situation
Currently, no airline offers nonstop flights between Thailand and the United States, with the most common routes involving connections through major Asian hubs such as Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, or Singapore. Middle Eastern carriers like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways also carry significant traffic between the two countries with transfers through their respective hubs.
The reinstated Category 1 status opens the door for Thai carriers to potentially reestablish direct services to US destinations. Thai Airways, as the country’s flag carrier, would be the most likely candidate to resume such routes, though the airline has undergone significant restructuring in recent years following bankruptcy proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
US carriers could also potentially launch services to Bangkok, though none have operated direct flights to Thailand in recent history, generally preferring to serve the market through alliance partnerships with Asian carriers.
The aviation landscape between the two countries now faces different economic challenges than in the past, including higher fuel costs and competition from Middle Eastern and North Asian carriers that have developed robust networks connecting Southeast Asia with North America.
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