The Thai Administrative Court is reviewing a temporary injunction filed by the Thai Pilots Association against the Ministry of Labour to block the employment of foreign pilots on domestic flights, the Bangkok Post has reported.
The court has not yet ruled on the matter but has asked the ministry to clarify its position and provide supporting evidence. Representatives from Thai VietJetAir (VZ, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) attended the hearing.
The case stems from Thai VietJet's use of two A320-200s from Avion Express (X9, Vilnius) under a wet-lease to operate flights between Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Phuket, and Chiang Mai during the winter 2024/25 season. The Thai cabinet approved the arrangement in December 2024 after the Labour Ministry endorsed a temporary waiver on restrictions for foreign pilots, citing a shortage of local flight crew.
The association disputes this rationale, arguing that many Thai pilots remain unemployed. Its president, Teerawat Angkasakulkiat, told the newspaper that the association's primary concern is the cabinet resolution's lack of a clear timeframe, which could allow six-month contracts with possible renewals.
Following the lawsuit filed in March, the CAAT halted approvals for foreign pilots on domestic routes. The association is also seeking a permanent court order to prevent the practice from being revived.
"Unless the court rules in our favour, the resolution leaves open the possibility for any airline to use foreign pilots for domestic routes again during the next high season," he said.
Teerawat also warned that the policy could eventually lead to aircraft piloting being removed from Thailand's restricted occupations list, which currently reserves the role for nationals. The court's ruling will determine whether the waiver remains temporary or sets a precedent for broader deployment of foreign pilots in the domestic market.
ch-aviation has reached out to the Thai Pilots Association for comment.
