Thailand’s deputy transport minister skips ICAO meeting

BANGKOK, April 14 (TNA) – Thailand’s Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith says the postponement of his meeting with president of the International Civil Aviation Organization to June will not affect the certification of air transport safety for Thai-registered airlines. Arkhom said his new meeting with the ICAO president on June 11, instead of April 20, will put Thailand on a better standing because the country would have solved most of the certification concerns by May. Arkhom also said adjustments to Thailand’s civil aviation standards would be carried out in stages within the next 8 months. This includes increasing staff numbers within the Department Civil Aviation to better look after aviation standards and measures on transport of hazardous cargoes. Currently, Japan, South Korea and China are limiting the visits of flights by Thai-registered airlines. (TNA)