The Thai Pilots Association strongly opposes a government proposal to temporarily relax restrictions on foreign pilots working for Thai carriers.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin mentioned on Thursday that a key challenge for the tourism sector has been the slow revival of flights post-pandemic. The airlines globally have cited a shortage of personnel as one of the factors hindering the recovery.
During a visit to Agoda, the world’s largest travel booking platform in Thailand, the Prime Minister urged airlines to increase flight frequencies and expand their fleets to aid in the tourism sector’s revival.
Given the circumstances, some airlines have expressed interest in having foreign pilots fly Thai aircraft, a job that is currently reserved for Thai citizens. The Prime Minister indicated that discussions with the Ministry of Labour will be held to explore potential solutions, which may include temporarily lifting the restriction.
Teerawat Angkasakulkiat, the president of the pilots’ association, disapproved of the notion of foreign pilots working for Thai carriers. He highlighted the challenges that Thai student pilots are facing, particularly in finding jobs due to their lack of experience, especially for positions at airlines in the Middle East that demand experienced pilots with requisite licenses and flight hours.
Following the pandemic-induced operational cutbacks, some experienced pilots have not returned to work, as some airlines are still in the process of restoring their fleets. This has left around 1,200 student pilots in Thailand struggling to secure employment.
Prior to the pandemic, airlines usually sponsored pilot training programs for obtaining specific aircraft licenses (type ratings). However, post-pandemic, with the introduction of the pay-to-fly scheme, where new graduates pay for training in exchange for jobs, the scenario has shifted.
The implementation of such schemes by foreign-funded airlines in Thailand has raised concerns about the financial burden it places on new pilots. Teerawat emphasized the need to prioritize training for local student pilots, as expanding fleets will take time, providing ample opportunity for training new pilots.
In light of the circumstances, the focus should be on supporting over a thousand unemployed student pilots in Thailand, rather than opening up job opportunities to foreign pilots, as suggested by Teerawat.
