FAA Downgrades Thailand Security Level

The Federal Aviation Administration has downgraded Thailand’s safety level to category 2 after a “reassessment of the country’s civil aviation authority.” The move means that the FAA believes Thailand lacks laws or regulations needed to effectively oversee air carriers. While Thailand’s current carriers can continue service to the United States, no new service between the two countries will be approved by the FAA until Thailand fixes its problems.

Thailand was granted category 1 in 1997, 2001 and 2008, but the FAA found that it did not meet the category 1 criteria in its latest review in July.