Thai Air Asia X Re-Certifies To ICAO Safety Standards

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa BANGKOK, June 13 (Bernama) -- Thailand's first long-haul and low-cost carrier, Thai Air Asia X, has been re-certified to the international safety standards of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The carrier, with another airline, NokScoot, was presented with re-certification of Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) in a ceremony attended by Thailand's Transport Minister Arkom Termpittayapaisith and CAAT Director-General Chula Sukmanop. According to Sukmanop, Thai Air Asia X and NokScoot were the fourth and fifth carriers to be re-granted the AOCs, marking a special milestone as both airlines only operated overseas flights. "NokScoot and Thai Air Asia X representing Thailand's aviation industry in the highly competitive global aviation arena in order to challenge other international carriers. Therefore, we hope the successful re-certification will help boost the confidence of both Thai and foreign traveller," he said in a statement on Sunday. To-date, CAAT has awarded AOC to a total of five Thai-registered airlines, covering approximately 77 percent of the international routes that Thai-registered airlines operate in their services. On solutions for the 33 findings of Significant Safety Concern, significant progress has been made with more than 80 per cent of the issues resolved, said CAAT. Within the end of this year, it plans to submit a request letter to ICAO to perform an ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission to withdraw the country's red flag. Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of Thai Air Asia X, Nadda Buranasiri, said the AOC it obtained on Sunday reflected the international standard of the airline, particularly the importance of safety at the heart of its services. "Our employees in every department have adhered to the highest standard of safety practices since the very start of commercial operations in 2014," he said. -- BERNAMA