The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reinstated Thailand's Category 1 International Aviation Safety Assessment rating, allowing Thailand-based carriers to fly to the United States. The FAA confirmed the change on April 23, 2025.
Late last year, Thailand's aviation sector underwent an FAA evaluation pending reclassification. A final meeting took place between the FAA and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) officials in March 2025.
"This is good news for the aviation industry of Thailand," said Thailand's Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit.
The FAA says the change now allows Thai operators to provide services into the United States and enter into codeshare agreements with US carriers without limitation.
No airline currently operates on the Thailand - US country pair, although United Airlines recently announced plans to launch a fifth-freedom Hong Kong International-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi route on October 26, 2025.
Thai Airways International (TG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) last operated to the US in 2012, when it flew non-stop between Bangkok and Los Angeles International. It later switched those flights to operate via Seoul Incheon, and ended its loss-making US flights altogether in 2015, shortly before the FAA's downgrade would have halted its services. A Thai Airways spokesperson told ch-aviation that the airline had no immediate plans to resume flights to the United States.
The FAA downgraded Thailand to Category 2 in 2015 after identifying 36 safety and technical deficiencies, including an insufficient number of qualified flight inspectors. However, in recent years, CAAT has significantly upgraded and enforced standards across the country's airlines and airports.
