FAA: No New Service To U.S. For Thai Airlines

Thailand-based airlines cannot establish new service to the United States, including through codeshares, now that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has downgraded the country's rating for civil aviation standards to Category 2. After an assessment in July and discussions with Thailand’s government through Oct. 28, the FAA determined that the country does not comply with International Civil Aviation Organization safety standards. Category 2 countries can continue existing service to the United States, but Thailand’s only airline with a capable fleet, Thai Airways, ended its only U.S. service, to Los Angeles, in October. Thailand had maintained a Category 1 rating, indicating compliance with ICAO standards, since 1997.