Thai AirAsia X Allowed to Operate Flights Into Japan Until the End of June

[Jacob Maslow]

Initial reports that flights from Thai AirAsia X to Japan may have indicated the wrong stop date. Initially, reports stated that flights were allowed to operate until the end of May, but Thai AirAsia X has released a statement stating that they are allowed to continue operating flights to Sapporo until the end of June.

Customers that have already purchased tickets can have their flight rerouted, or they can seek a full refund from the airline.

Thai AirAsia X has worked closely with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) to correct many of the safety issues the company faces. The JCAB has requested that Thailand submit plans, no later than May, on how the country plans to improve their airline safety. The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) will need to seek permission to enter Japan again after all international safety standards have been met.

Prayut Chan-o-cha has stated that the government will be working with the European Aviation Safety Agency to verify that all of the standards are met. Verification will take place within the next month, and Prayut is already taking measures to speed up the process.

Service from Bangkok to Sapporo will only be offered from May 1 to June 30.

Flights to Narita and Kansai airports have not been affected. These flights will remain operational. Service to South Korea’s Inchon airport will also remain operational at this time.

The DCA announced on Tuesday that they will ask the International Civil Aviation Authority to directly check their safety standards, pending the currently planned improvements. If all improvements are made swiftly, Thailand’s flights should be able to operate without disruption once again.

The JCAB has allowed many flights to remain as scheduled due to the months of April and May being a high tourist season in both Japan and Thailand.

-- 2015-03-31

[NongKhaiKid]

The extra month won't matter much if customers lose confidence.

[Ricardo]

Interesting that one Thai airline, which is part of a much-larger Asian-wide group, appears to be dealing direct with the Japanese authorities, rather than relying on the Thai DCA to fix things ?

[chainarong]

There is a couple of notables here one glaring one, why is AirAsiaX allowed to operate into japan till end of June, you are either un-audited or certified , the Prayut-O- one is consulting the European Aviation safety, one would have thought China would be the frontrunner and some of the issues doesn't make sense, you are either ok to fly or not, for Japan to not make any moves either suggest the problems won't affect the airworthiness of aircraft or it is the Asian allowance kickin in , as far as DCA is concerned they need a good kick in the nuts for being so down right slovenly in the execution of their duties , there is no excuse that's worth listening too, because there is no excuse for poor air safety standards.