Thai PM asks critics not to politicize airline downgrade

By CS Thana

BANGKOK

Thailand’s junta leader-cum-prime minister told critics Wednesday not to politicize the recent downgrade of the country’s airlines by a U.S. aviation regulation body.

"They must not use this to criticize the government as it won’t help the situation," Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters. "We must work together to find a way forward.”

He also urged his administration to "work faster" and find the right solutions to improve Thai airlines’ ranking.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded Thailand from Tier 1 to Tier 2 on Tuesday (U.S. time).

The move means that Thai-based airlines will not be allowed new routes into the U.S., although existing routes will be permitted to continue.

The FAA downgraded Thailand's aviation administration after an investigation found that the country "lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards."

Thai Airways, the country's flag carrier, responded to the FAA downgrade with an emailed statement emphasizing that the airline adheres to the highest safety standards and that it would not be affected by a downgrade since it no longer flies to the U.S.

A source inside the company, who requested anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to media, told Anadolu Agency that the downgrade was issued due to an increase in low budget airlines that often failed to heed safety regulations or bribed their way to a license.

The FAA is the latest authority to issue warnings about Thailand's aviation administration.

The UN-affiliated International Civil Aviation Organization had issued a red card to Thailand in July after an independent audit found gaps in the country's safety standards.