Thailand Awaits Final FAA Inspection for Direct Flights to the US

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of CAAT

 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has announced that the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is conducting a final inspection to assess Thailand’s progress in addressing previous safety concerns. This step is crucial for Thailand to potentially regain its Category 1 (CAT 1) status, which would allow Thai airlines to operate direct flights to the United States.

 

On 11 March, CAAT Director-General Air Chief Marshal Manat Choumanapreuk confirmed that FAA representatives, led by Dennis Hill, Acting Director of the Office of Air Carrier Safety Assurance, have arrived in Thailand for the final review taking place from 10 to 12 March. This review follows a November 2024 assessment, during which several safety issues were identified and highlighted for correction.

 

If Thailand successfully resolves all outstanding issues, it will be upgraded from Category 2 to Category 1. This status means that Thailand’s aviation safety standards are aligned with international norms, allowing Thai airlines to resume direct flights to the US. In addition to restoring air services to the US, the upgrade will increase the number of flights and carriers permitted to operate on routes involving the US, fostering continued growth in Thailand’s aviation sector.

 

The final results of this inspection will be announced within 30 days. “CAAT officials are fully committed to addressing these shortcomings to ensure a smooth final review and to restore Thailand to CAT 1 status,” Air Chief Marshal Manat said.

 

-- 2025-03-12