Airlines ordered to issue emergency risk management plan

BANGKOK, 17 February 2016 (NNT) – Passenger airlines in Thailand have been ordered to compile an emergency and risk management plan, while airlines with repeated flight cancellations may face the termination of their license, says the Minister of Transport.

The Minister of Transport Aomsin Sheewaruek has chaired a meeting with delegates from 13 airlines in Thailand, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), and Airports of Thailand, in wake of the incident where 9 flights operated by Nok Air have been cancelled due to pilots striking. The incident has affected up to 1,400 passengers.

He revealed the outcome of the meeting that air carriers are appointed to issue their emergency and risk management plan, and to consider authorizing station managers to possess decision-making authority.

Airlines must report to the Ministry of Transport on this issue within one month, while the CAAT must be able to access internal information of all airlines for immediate actions in case of any unusual operations.

The Minister of Transport has said airlines are required to provide customer’s protection to passengers as per the CAAT’s regulations, while repeated offences may result in the revocation of the airline's operating license.

It is reported however that no executives from Nok Air, a low cost carrier facing issue from pilot strike causing flight cancellations, was present in the meeting.

The outcome from this meeting will be further submitted to the Deputy Prime Ministers Somkid Jatusripitak and Gen Prawit Wongsuwan along with the rest of the Cabinet, while the Transport Minister has expressed his concern regarding the situation of Nok Air, as the airline has failed to operate along its usual schedule, and must receive assistance from other airlines to service passengers that had made reservations.

He said the issue occurred from internal problems where some pilots do not understand the airline’s auditing criteria, which has been upgraded to meet the IATA Operation Safety Audit standards.


-- NNT 2016-02-17

You mean they do not already have emergency risk management plans?! These are airlines for fools sake!

Thailand - chaotic, reactive and mismanaged in nearly every way.