Four Thai carriers have been designated with the lowest star-ratings for aviation safety in an annual survey of the world’s biggest airlines.
AirlineRatings.com ranked 407 global airlines from one- to seven-stars, according to various factors determining safety. A seven-star rating is the best and safest rating while one-star is the worst. Qantas was named the world’s safest airline for the third year in a row.
148 carriers were awarded a seven-star rating but almost 50 were designated as just three stars or less.
In Thailand, Nok Air was awarded a two-star rating, while AirAsia Thailand, Bangkok Air and Orient Thai Airlines were deemed just three stars. Thai Airways squeaked ahead with four stars.
The ratings are determined by multiple indicators including crash and grounding records, whether the airline is certified by the International Air Transport Association, whether the airline is on an EU blacklist and whether the airline operates only Russian-manufactured planes, according to the Telegraph.
Ten carriers were awarded just one star; all of which are based in Indonesia, Nepal or Suriname.
These ratings come in the wake of the US downgrading the Thai aviation industry to category 2 at the end of 2015, thereby disallowing all carriers to establish any new routes to the US due.
A category 2 is handed down by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) because a country “either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards or its civil aviation authority – a body equivalent to the FAA for aviation safety matters – is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping, or inspection procedures.”
Earlier in the year, the International Civil Aviation Organization placed all Thai airlines under ‘special measures’ which induced South Korea and Japan to both block new flights to their shores from Thai airlines.
A minor reprieve came at the end of 2015 when Thailand escaped being placed on the EU’s Air Safety List – often referred to as the EU Blacklist.
“No carriers from Thailand were added to the Air Safety List at this time,” said the European Commission.
“The Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency are willing to continue to work with the Thai authorities to enhance aviation safety in the country.”
Featured image via Boeing
