Airline News
Thai carriers determined to meet ICAO standards
May 4th 2015
Thai Airways International (THAI) president, Charamporn Jotikasthira, has defended the carrier's $40 million baht ($1.22 million) decision to hire U.S.-based consultancies, Bain & Company and L.E.K.. He said THAI needed their expert advice to quickly map out a reform plan after seven quarters of consecutive operational losses. Read More » A group of former THAI executives last week claimed a Bain executive had also worked for L.E.K and Temasek Holdings (owner of Singapore Airlines), raising concerns about conflict of interest.
Meanwhile, Khun Charamporn said THAI had made significant improvements to its safety standards and expressed confidence such results would be seen “before June”, the end of the 90-day grace period the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had given Thailand’s Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to fix its issues. According to the THAI chief, the legacy carrier has made improvements in five areas. Personnel, including pilots and station managers, have undergone additional training to be better equipped for increased ramp checks. Secondly, the airline had improved its assessment of ground operations, customer services and transport of dangerous goods. Thirdly, external auditors have been hired from Star Alliance to help manage and review safety protocol. Fourthly, THAI has prepared for safety inspections by foreign civil aviation authorities and fifthly, its business plans were adjusted in accordance with the flagged safety contraventions.
Sitting in the same boat as THAI, charter-focused Jet Asia Airways has turned to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to have its safety apparatus audited and certified under stringent IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) standards to ensure its safety practices meet global standards. Successfully completing IOSA will be Jet Asia’s entry ticket into IATA and its more than 250 members comprising 84% of global air traffic, Jet Asia managing director, Chairat Sangchan, told the Bangkok Post. IATA director general, Tony Tyler, last week said it was unfair to penalise all Thai carriers for the government’s ”oversight” in regulatory regime for aviation, adding that “both Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways are members of IATA [and] met international safety standards”.
