Japan and Thailand signed an agreement on Thursday to allow chartered flights by Thai-registered airlines to continue operation through May, said Voradet Harnprasert, deputy permanent secretary for transport.
The signing of the memorandum of understanding finally happened withinThursday as officials of Thailand's Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) could agree on details.
Earlier, Japan decided to prohibit Thai-registered airlines from increasing flights and destinations or changing the aircraft types following a notice of safety concerns from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) about the DCA's standards and capabilities in certifying operations of airlines registered in Thailand.
The restriction was intended to start this month when air travel demand soars due to extended holidays in both Thailand and Japan.
Mr Voradet, a former DCA director-general, denied a report that China had banned flights by Thai-registered airlines due to the ICAO's concerns.
He said that China only announced in January to limit the number of visiting chartered flights from Thailand due to their previously excessive frequencies.
Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said on Friday that Thai aviation authorities had to improve their air transport certification to meet the ICAO's standards within its 90-day deadline; otherwise, Thai-registered airlines could not operate in the countries that were members of the ICAO.
The deadline will fall on June 2.
Regarding the agreement with JCAB, the minister said that chartered flights of Thai-registered airlines could resume operations in Japan from April 11 to May 31 on the condition that they must use same aircraft types and same old routes.
The resumption date was delayed from April 2 (Thursday) to April 11 because JCAB wanted to see the corrective action plan that the DCA would propose to the ICAO and consider it first, ACM Prajin said.
The plan would be sent to JCAB within April 6, he said.
