Transport Court Considers Dispute Over Hiring Foreign Pilots

[Georgealbert]

 

File picture for reference only.

 

A legal dispute over the use of foreign pilots on domestic flights is now before the Administrative Court, raising concerns among Thai aviators about job security and fair competition.

 

The case was initially brought raised in March of this year, by the Thai Pilots Association, which is seeking a temporary injunction to halt the hiring of foreign pilots for domestic services. The dispute stems from last year’s high tourism season, when VietJet Thailand operated Bangkok–Phuket flights under a wet lease arrangement using foreign pilots.

 

This arrangement was permitted after the Cabinet, in December 2024, temporarily lifted restrictions on foreign pilots at the request of the Ministry of Labour.

 

At a recent hearing, the Administrative Court asked the ministry to clarify its position. Representatives from VietJet Thailand and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) also attended. VietJet defended the move as part of a government strategy to boost tourism and lower airfares, while the CAAT confirmed all lease documentation was in order. The Ministry of Labour maintained that the policy was legally authorised.

 

Teerawat Angkasakulkiat, President of the Thai Pilots Association, said wet lease agreements have been used in Thailand since 2008, but warned that the current cabinet resolution sets no clear limit. This, he said, allows leases to run for about six months with the potential for extensions.

 

“Unless the court rules in our favour, the resolution leaves open the possibility for any airline to use foreign pilots for domestic routes again during the next high season,” Teerawat said.

 

He also voiced concern that pilots could be removed from the list of restricted occupations, a move he believes would undermine local competitiveness. With new domestic routes being planned, he urged the CAAT to ensure a fairer employment system, publish pilot employment statistics and prohibit “pay-to-fly” schemes, under which pilots pay for their own positions.

 

Teerawat also called for Thailand to adopt global best practices, including scholarship programmes to attract top talent to the aviation sector.

 

The court’s decision, could determine whether foreign pilots will once again be eligible to operate domestic flights in Thailand.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Thaiger 2025-08-10

 

 

 

[daveAustin]

Foreign pilots have been flying here for years, and rightly so. Join the real world, Thailand. Or should we resort to removing Thai pilots on domestic routes in countries around the world? Nah, that would be amoral and protectionist, wouldn’t it?

[bkk6060]

Kind of dumb thinking most of the foreign pilots are much better trained and experienced then local.  They should actually encourage their use for training purposes and could actually save a future catastrophe.

[Gsxrnz]

That's one of the many reasons I don't fly on any S.E Asian airlines. Pilots and maintenance staff not hired, trained or managed based on meritocracy. Or at best, employed on a meritocratic basis from an extremely limited selection pool based on ethnicity.

 

Mind you, I don't go on Thai busses either.