Thailand-U.S. Direct Flights Could Return by Early 2025

Thailand could resume direct flights to the U.S. early next year, as it anticipates an upgrade to a Category 1 safety rating from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit expressed confidence, saying the FAA could officially reinstate Thailand’s Category 1 (CAT 1) safety rating by February 2025, according to a Bangkok Post report.

In 2015, the FAA downgraded Thailand’s aviation safety rating to Category 2. This followed a safety audit that highlighted non-compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT). It barred Thai carriers from launching new routes to the U.S., effectively grounding nonstop flights.

However, prior to the downgrade, Thai Airways, the only carrier that flew non-stop fr