Regulations and Government
Thailand’s Latest Safety Rating Meets ICAO Target
Thailand passed its latest milestone in an effort to regain FAA Category 1 status.
Thai Airways could start direct service to the U.S. once the Federal Aviation Administration grants Thailand Category 1 safety status. (Photo: Flickr: Creative Commons (BY-SA) by N1_Photography)
Thai Airways could start direct service to the U.S. once the Federal Aviation Administration grants Thailand Category 1 safety status. (Photo: Flickr: Creative Commons (BY-SA) by N1_Photography)

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has awarded Thailand an effective implementation (EI) score of 65.07 percent in its latest safety audit, effectively ranking the country above ICAO’s target of 60 percent, Thai regulators said this week. The audit comes as Thailand seeks to accelerate efforts to address a variety of oversight and other shortcomings in a bid to restore its Category 1 safety rating with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Regaining Category 1 status would allow Thai-registered airlines to launch new routes to the U.S. and participate in codeshare agreements with U.S.-based carriers.