News
Thailand prepares for new ICAO audit as THAI A340 purchases probed
February 3rd 2017
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and the kingdom’s airlines are readying for what they hope will be a reversal of fortunes: an ICAO re-audit that could remove Thailand from the agency’s blacklist. Read More »
Speaking to the Nikkei Asian Review, Thai transport minister, Arkhom Termpittayapaisiht, said the CAAT was considering reapplication in June, but this depended on individual airline recertification.
In the interim, Thailand’s flag carrier, Thai Airways International (THAI), is bracing itself for another scandal. Former THAI EVP, Jothin Pamonmontri, now a representative of Thailand’s anti-graft body, has again urged the government to launch a probe into the purchase of 10 A340-500/600 aircraft and five spare engines.
Jothin said the jets were ordered at a cost of five to six billion baht each (US$142 million-US$172 million), despite National Economic and Social Development Board objections, made clear to the airline’s board of directors, to review the orders.
The A340s did not fly with THAI for long. Citing high fuel consumption, the airline decommissioned them after a few years in service and has been unable to find buyers since the mothballing. All but one of the aircraft (a -500 sold to the Royal Thai Air Force) remain parked at Don Mueang and U-Tapao airports.
The new allegations follow the Rolls-Royce PLC bribery scandal that implicated THAI. Thai airline and government officials allegedly received more than US$38 million in bribes for signing off on aircraft and spare part orders with intermediaries associated with Rolls-Royce.
