Note that all Indonesia's airlines got banned internationally for 2 years over similar issues http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tou ... yers-wings

Geez that's nearly 11,000 points I will perhaps loose if TG dropped off the BKK- ICH-LAX leg.

With Code Share with United, no Star Alliance out of BKK to LAX

Im not going to fly to SIN just to get over to the States for Star Alliance .

Japan Airlines Business Class to Narita is a shocker ! lounge in Swampy is so old, better off in a food court

wazza wrote:


Japan Airlines Business Class to Narita is a shocker ! lounge in Swampy is so old, better off in a food court

thawt there would not be much furniture just a low table and some cushions for comfort,suppose all those chain smoking japs have made the walls look faded

An interesting article from VOA (giving an unofficial US Government perspective - allegedly):

• Some Thailand Flights Grounded Over Safety Concerns
  
  BANGKOK— Thailand's government on Monday scrambled to address "significant safety concerns" by the U.N.'s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that has the kingdom's airlines facing bans on international flights.
  
  The ICAO negative review quickly led Japan and South Korea to block charter and new flights from Thailand. There is concern other countries, including the United States, will take similar action, especially if the ICAO downgrades Thailand from Category 1 to Category 2.
  
  A U.S. government source - who is not authorized to speak on the record - explained the ICAO report would probably trigger an audit of Thailand's aviation sector by the Federal Aviation Administration. He called the ICAO audit results a "real red flag for the FAA."
  
  Japan and South Korea do not conduct their own assessments and usually rely on ICAO findings to take action....
  
  Previous administrations blamed
  
  Officials of Thailand's government, under control of a military junta since last May's coup, are blaming previous administrations for not paying heed to the problem.
  
  "The ICAO has warned us since 2005 about our aviation management and asked us to improve our systems," Prajin said.
  
  The ICAO has rejected the civil aviation department's enhancement plan, submitted March 2, reportedly because it proposed a two-year period to fix problems.
  
  Critics have said Thailand's civil aviation sector suffers from frequent changes of government, corruption, complacency and incompetence....
  
  ICAO concerns
  
  Thailand's civil aviation department did not give details of the ICAO's concerns but said additional training will be provided to its staff and airline inspections will be increased.
  
  Industry sources said the most serious concerns involve shortcomings for safety regulations for low-cost carriers, including certifications for air operations and the transportation of hazardous goods.
  
  On professional pilots' forums on the Internet, comments about the ICAO safety warning have prompted comments by industry workers alleging government inspectors were bribed with cash and massages to favorably sign off on paperwork....
  
  Full article: http://www.voanews.com/content/some-tha ... 99518.html

Disclosure: I have been through an emergency landing on a Thai flight (and two with British Airways).

Air Astana had the same issue

Banned to fly into EU except 2 Air Bus aircraft which were serviced in Amsterdam, the termination of the flight.

Garuda were using copied parts from memory.

I see the Junta leader is blaming pervious admin and board members for this issue.

First thing we see in Airlines on the edge of financial distress is maintenance and cost cutting .

Lucky fuel prices are down , but it has been suggested the downed MAS flight was taking short cuts over Ukraine for fuel savings.

Air Asia used to fly KL to Stansted (London).
Few years back it was reported in the BP and Nation that they were starting flights from BKK to Gatwick and were due to start in September of that year.

Then .......... nothing the KL flight stopped the BKK flight never started and no explanation, to my knowledge, was ever given.
Was this due to cost cutting or was it a safety standards issue?

Australia also all over TG Now as well, citing some pretty nasty words etc...

Apparently there are currently 41 Thai airlines in operation, 28 of which have international flights.

Friend of mine flies with TG on BKK to Perth


Sent me a message today to say the TG staff are sh*tting bricks right now.

The predicted loss of 150,000 pax to China , Japan and Korea in the next 2-3 months from this decision even at $500 per ticket is $75,000,000.

Massive impact on the aviation sector i imagine plus no tourists flying to Thailand may impact even more on reduced numbers.

Already in recession . Not looking good at all. Did the baht slip ? No.?