The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) has yet to reach any agreement with its Thai counterpart on a possible relaxation of restrictions imposed on Thai-registered airlines flying to Japan.
The Bangkok Post reported Thursday that Thai and Japanese aviation regulators would sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) easing restrictions on Thai airlines.
The MoU has not yet been signed because the JCAB still has to go through details and conditions of the agreement, Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said.
There should be more information about the MoU before midday Friday. The JCAB insisted the answer would be positive, he said.
The JCAB had sent its representatives to meet the Thai Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) over the past two days, but the outcome of their talks is not yet known, ACM Prajin said.
"The Japanese asked for more time to deliberate details and conditions of the proposed MoU. When they have made their decision both sides will talk to the media separately at the same time to prevent confusion," ACM Prajin said.
He said he was confident talks between the two sides would improve the JCAB's confidence the Thai regulator could rectify its problems within 60 days so the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) would no longer hold its safety concerns.
The ICAO had reported significant flaws in its past audit of DCA operations.
No new aviation licences will be issued until problems with those already issued have been dealt with and staff shortages at the DCA have been solved, he said.
By the end of this year, details of a plan to recruit between 50 and 80 new staff members to work in a new organisation called the National Civil Aviation Institute should be available, ACM Prajin said.
The number of officers processing applications for new aviation licences should also be doubled to 32, he added.
He said he would address a press conference to be televised on Channel 5 from 10.30-11.30am today.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will discuss the aviation problem at the conference, the minister said.
DCA chief Somchai Phiphutthawat insisted that the aviation problems existing between Japan and Thailand are unique.
China and South Korea didn't ban flights from Thailand as reported, he said.
Meanwhile, Thai Airways International (THAI) revealed yesterday that it planned to offer an early retirement package to about 2,000 staff members.
Kanok Thongphueak, vice-president for human resources and management, said the retirement package is part of the company's plan to cut 5,000 jobs.
The redundancies are required under the rehabilitation plan adopted to resolve THAI's losses.
The airline posted a net loss of 15.57 billion baht last year.
