File picture for reference only, courtesy of Nok Air.

 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has ordered Nok Air to suspend all international flights and halt any route expansion over persistent safety concerns, a move that has sent shockwaves through the country’s travel sector.

 

The directive, issued on 25 August, cites a series of operational incidents dating from 2023 to 2025, including in-flight engine shutdowns, runway excursions, hard landings and tail strikes. 
 

Nok Air is currently not conducting international flights due to the low travel season. During during peak times, the airline serves three destinations in China and two in India.

 

While one engine failure remains unexplained, with CAAT requesting a root cause analysis of the incident, the airline stated this was not possible, as the airline no longer has the engine.

 

CAAT also highlighted ongoing issues with personnel turnover among pilots, instructors and flight inspectors, raising broader questions about the airline’s operational consistency.

 

Nok Air, founded in 2004 as Sky Asia Co. Ltd., has long struggled with safety and reliability despite its strong domestic presence. The airline faced additional scrutiny following a Boeing 737-800 runway overshoot at Chiang Rai airport in July 2022, though no passengers were injured.

 

Chief Executive Wutthiphum Jurangkool stated that the airline had replaced the faulty engine involved in last year’s incident on a flight to Nanning, China, and insisted that departures of several staff members were due to moves to other carriers, not safety failings. “In our 21 years of operation, Nok Air has never had a fatal accident. We’ve experienced incidents, such as the runway excursion during heavy rain at Chiang Rai airport in 2022, but such force majeure events can occur with any airline.”, he said, emphasising the airline’s ongoing compliance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) safety audits.

 

While domestic operations continue, Nok Air now faces a critical period to address safety deficiencies. The airline is working with Boeing and technology partners to enhance pilot monitoring and training,. Meeting CAAT’s compliance requirements may seem a formidable task, but the Chief Executive is optimistic it the can be achieved within a month.

 

This suspension is part of a broader effort to ensure full compliance with ICAO standards, as the ICAO audit of Thailand’s aviation safety system is scheduled to take place from August 27 to September 8, 2025.

 

The airline’s suspension underscores Thailand’s broader commitment to safety over growth, as officials seek to rebuild global confidence in its aviation sector. For Nok Air, the immediate challenge will be restoring trust and demonstrating that its low-cost services can operate safely on international routes.

 

Until then, the airline’s slogan, “Smiling Across Asia”, may seem more aspirational than reality for travellers navigating the disruption caused by its grounding.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from TravelandTourWorld 2025-08-30

 

 

 

 

 

Wow!!!

 

That is scary.......how can the business recover from that?

Why not ground domestic also ?

Thank you CAAT for doing your job 

Another ICAO red flag for Thailand — and the first under CAAT — would be unacceptable. CAAT was created to prevent exactly this. Singling out one airline won’t solve the deeper issue: the regulator must demonstrate in next month’s audit that it can enforce safety consistently, or the entire Thai aviation sector will pay the price.

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

Why not ground domestic also ?

It's still safer than bus travel.

11 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

It's still safer than bus travel.

Or Air India...

 

But admittedly, their planes are a bit worn down on the seat upholstery, the seat belts, also the paint on the outside looks like it's been a long time since that iconic beak and feathers were painted on it... some planes have paint completely gone on the top. Quite sad to see, actually.

 

But that's cosmetic. What really matters is how well it's maintained mechanically, for which I've no idea.

 

Flew with them several times lately as they were the only airline that had flight when I needed it. No complaints on their service, all my flights were on time as well. Thinking back... their planes don't look any worse than Air Asia's when they first started in Thailand, before they ditched all that B737s and replaced them with new A320s...

5 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Or Air India...

 

But admittedly, their planes are a bit worn down on the seat upholstery, the seat belts, also the paint on the outside looks like it's been a long time since that iconic beak and feathers were painted on it... some planes have paint completely gone on the top. Quite sad to see, actually.

 

But that's cosmetic. What really matters is how well it's maintained mechanically, for which I've no idea.

 

Flew with them several times lately as they were the only airline that had flight when I needed it. No complaints on their service, all my flights were on time as well. Thinking back... their planes don't look any worse than Air Asia's when they first started in Thailand, before they ditched all that B737s and replaced them with new A320s...

 

"But that's cosmetic. What really matters is how well it's maintained mechanically, for which I've no idea"

 

The first priority for Thais is the "look" of anything.....the shine, the glitter, the beautiful paintwork, the appearance.......cosmetics.

 

If that's shot you can absolutely guarantee that what's underneath is completely ******.

 

 

16 hours ago, JoePai said:

Why not ground domestic also ?

 

 

Probably because Thai Airways isn't drooling over domestic routes.

What a shame. Have always preferred to fly Nok domestically in preference to the other two. Had problems with both over the years with cancelling flights or not being on time.

13 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Or Air India...

 

But admittedly, their planes are a bit worn down on the seat upholstery, the seat belts, also the paint on the outside looks like it's been a long time since that iconic beak and feathers were painted on it... some planes have paint completely gone on the top. Quite sad to see, actually.

 

But that's cosmetic. What really matters is how well it's maintained mechanically, for which I've no idea.

 

Flew with them several times lately as they were the only airline that had flight when I needed it. No complaints on their service, all my flights were on time as well. Thinking back... their planes don't look any worse than Air Asia's when they first started in Thailand, before they ditched all that B737s and replaced them with new A320s...

The flight Utapao Airport to Samui on Scoot I think, the only flight where the entire plane clapped when we landed.

15 hours ago, chawbdurian said:

Thank you CAAT for doing your job 

 

CAAT is not doing its job with this limited  intervention. Suspending non active routes serves no purpose since Nok is still operating in Thailand without limitation or additional intervention.

 

14 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

It's still safer than bus travel.

 

Not  a realistic, nor valid comparison. Buses carry more passengers per annum than Nok Air, and serve districts that are otherwise isolated since there are no transit alternatives capable of moving the volume of people that buses do. 

 

2 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Probably because Thai Airways isn't drooling over domestic routes.

 

There are alternatives to Nok such as Air Asia, Thai Lion, Bangkok Airways, and Thai Viet Jet.

Thai Airways still has a robust domestic network and serves all regional airports in Thailand.

 

16 hours ago, jacnl2000 said:

Another ICAO red flag for Thailand — and the first under CAAT — would be unacceptable. CAAT was created to prevent exactly this. Singling out one airline won’t solve the deeper issue: the regulator must demonstrate in next month’s audit that it can enforce safety consistently, or the entire Thai aviation sector will pay the price.

 

When you see something like this, and the long history of Thai aviation mishaps / shortcomings that have preceded it, you can't help but wonder if it's not representative of broader practices (failings) in the entire local aviation industry.

 

From 2015:

FAA Downgrade Puts Pressure on Thailand’s Aviation Industry

December 02, 2015 7:34 AM

...

"The U.S. decision follows that of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) concerns over aviation safety in a report in March.

 

The FAA lowered Thailand’s rating to a “category 2” –meaning that its civil aviation authority was deficient in one or more critical areas, or that the country was lacking legal or regulatory oversight of airlines in keeping with international standards. The move blocks airlines from expanding routes to the United States."

 

Brendan Sobie, the Singapore-based chief analyst with the Center for Aviation, said the U.S. decision echoes concerns voiced by others. “They have already had this issue for the last several months with the ICAO and then the restrictions imposed by Japan and Korea which has had a real impact on the startup [carriers] Nok, Scoot and Thai Air Asia, in particular as well as some other charter carriers in Thailand,” he said."

(more)

 

https://www.voanews.com/a/thailands-aviation-industry-under-pressure-after-faa-downgrade/3084098.html

 

The U.S. reinstated Thailand's aviation rating earlier this year, but you can't help but wonder if the change of administration to the regulation-resisting Trump Admin. might have had more to do with the change than actual progress in improving the aviation sector here.

 

Thailand Regains Category 1 Rating, Clears Path for U.S. Routes

April 23, 2025

 

"Thailand has regained its Category 1 safety rating from the FAA nearly a decade after being downgraded, paving the way for Thai airlines to launch flights to the U.S. and enter codeshare agreements with American carriers.

 

The FAA officially reinstated the rating on April 22 following a reassessment process that began in November 2024 and included the identification of 36 findings requiring corrective action."

 

https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/safety-ops-regulation/thailand-regains-category-1-rating-clears-path-us-routes

 

That's great above... But again, one might ask, if Thailand had really cleaned up all its aviation regulatory and safety issues by the spring of this year (it took them TEN years, really???), why then is Thai CAAT having to come along just months later and ground one of its major carriers from all international flights, citing "persistent safety concerns"?

 

Something doesn't smell right...

 

19 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

That's great above... But again, one might ask, if Thailand had really cleaned up all its aviation regulatory and safety issues by the spring of this year, why then is Thai CAAT having to come along just months later and ground one of its major carriers from all international flights, citing "persistent safety concerns"?

 

Something doesn't smell right...

 

IMO, the bigger puzzler is why they'd allow Nok to keep flying domestic routes if they're not safe enough to fly international routes.

 

The cynic in me suspects they want to free up the international routes for Thai Airways because those are more profitable than domestic routes.  But I'd have to scrutinize their financials (as if I would believe them anyway) to figure out where Thai Airways actually makes their money.

 

Nok Air is the only landing i've with an airline where I thought wtfff on approach coming into DMK...........its was so unstable (like sudden large nose down movements trying to get on the glideslope, speed up/down) not stable atoll and was amateur hour......the landing itself was okay but it seem liked the pilot was being trained 

9 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

"The U.S. decision follows that of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) concerns over aviation safety in a report in March.

Easily remedied: the Thai PM visits the White House and with the right contribution the president will commence dismantling the FAA.  Great again!

People injured and killed in air disasters will be remembered in thoughts and prayers.

 

Scary but good decision.

18 hours ago, impulse said:

 

IMO, the bigger puzzler is why they'd allow Nok to keep flying domestic routes if they're not safe enough to fly international routes.

 

The cynic in me suspects they want to free up the international routes for Thai Airways because those are more profitable than domestic routes.  But I'd have to scrutinize their financials (as if I would believe them anyway) to figure out where Thai Airways actually makes their money.

 

 

Nok serves a different demographic and market than Thai International. TG is a full service airline offering a robust international schedule and frequency with interline connections and has a volume of business that supports international activity. It also has a specialized cargo function.

Nok's routes are primarily short haul and regional. The China and India routes were junketeer flights catering to tour groups. The Nok fleet is small with only 14 B737-800. It only offers a single cabin service. The fleet cannot support  the large international routes you  describe. It can barely support Nok's domestic schedule. If one or more aircraft is withdrawn from service, there are schedule problems. If Nok were to try for foreign markets it would need to expand its fleet and it just does not have the financial capability to do so at this time. Nor can it compete with regional LCCs on price.

For all consistent traveller, we should continuously monitor such news and also the condition of planes and also ground delays ...etc.. ie keep your eyes open... airlines will cut cost but if such cost cuts are in crucial areas,... it really means they are very short of money and they have no money for the important stuff. Generally, Thai culture likes to use equipment as long as they are workable even if the equipment breakdown constantly. Its a virtue from the days gone past but faced with such cultural practices... one can only be constantly alert and watch out for yourself. Keep safe everybody.

6 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

If Nok were to try for foreign markets it would need to expand its fleet and it just does not have the financial capability to do so at this time. Nor can it compete with regional LCCs on price.

 

Did you miss the part of the OP where Nok was already flying some international routes and those were the ones taken away by CAAT?

 

Yet, CAAT still allows them to fly domestic routes, in spite of claiming they're not safe.

 

Sounds more like nepotistic (is that a word?) fooknuttery to me.

23 hours ago, impulse said:

 

 

Probably because Thai Airways isn't drooling over domestic routes.

BINGO !!

On 8/30/2025 at 4:27 PM, Will B Good said:

 

Wow!!!

 

That is scary.......how can the business recover from that?

Get their house in order, get audited and start over.

On 8/30/2025 at 4:35 PM, JoePai said:

Why not ground domestic also ?

Probably shorter flights with many emergency airports?

Are those Pilots low paid & the bottom of the barrel.

I think we’re all happy there are several other Airline options 

On 8/30/2025 at 4:35 PM, JoePai said:

Why not ground domestic also ?

Exactly this.
 

How can the issues identified, all of which appear to be relevant domestically, plus all the incidents cited which also appear to have occurred domestically, apply only to the 4 international routes, none of which are currently operational?

 

Quite clearly the domestic routes are equally at risk and at the current time, solely the ones at risk.

 

The good news is that the  travelling public will quickly vote with their feet. This airline will surely go under in a short space of time.

On 8/30/2025 at 2:27 AM, Will B Good said:

 

Wow!!!

 

That is scary.......how can the business recover from that?

Boeing? Agenda 2030. Save the butterflies. No more or limited air travel.  Sick pilots. More boosters.

Nok used to be a great airline, years ago.  Now absolutely rubbish.  Delays, cancellations, scheduling changes, poorly maintained planes etc.  I will never fly with them again.

21 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Probably shorter flights with many emergency airports?

 

If you look at a map, there are a lot of international routes shorter than (for example) Chiang Mai to Hat Yai.

On 8/30/2025 at 4:27 PM, Will B Good said:

 

Wow!!!

 

That is scary.......how can the business recover from that?

Change their name i suppose 

2 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

If you look at a map, there are a lot of international routes shorter than (for example) Chiang Mai to Hat Yai.

If you look at a map, Thailand got many airports for emergency landings