Thailand Downgraded to Category 2

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) became the latest external agency to publicly express a lack of confidence in the safety of Thai aviation by downgrading Thailand from Category 1 to Category 2 status under the U.S. International Aviation Safety Assessment program. Earlier this year, China, South Korea, and Japan had curtailed Thailand's ability to operate flights to their markets, and the International Civil Aviation Organization pronounced Thailand non-compliant with international safety standards. Because Thai airlines are not currently operating to the United States, the latest downgrade lacks any direct commercial consequences, aside from reputational damage. Thailand clearly has work to do to regain the confidence of the international community.