Brilio.net/en - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the United States' governing body for aviation has downgraded Thailand from a Category 1 to a Category 2 in terms of safety. The demotion basically restricts Thailand's national carrier, Thai Airways, from operating within the US.
Beyond the US, downgrades by the FAA have typically been followed by other aviation officials around the world, particularly Europe and East Asia.
Thailand was downgraded because the country did not comply with international standards. In stripping the Category 1 rating the country gained back in 1997, shares in several Thai airline companies fell.
A Category 1 means that the aviation of a country complies with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
The ICAO, a United Nations agency "red flagged" Thailand back in June over safety concerns, listing it alongside countries such as Angola, Botswana, Djibouti, Eritrea, Georgia, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malawi, Nepal, Sierra Leone, and Uruguay.
In response to the demotion, Thailand's prime minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered a swift and thorough overhaul of the country's aviation systems.
"Therefore, all must join hands to bring peace to the country," he said, according to theBangkok Post. "Don't try to pick a quarrel, because doing so will not lead us out of crisis."
The country's leading airline company, insisted that the downgrade will not affect its customers or businesses.
"Thai confirms its commitment to aviation safety standards and assures all that Thai operates with the highest international aviation safety standards," the airline said.