Thu, May 23, 2013 02:03:34 AM
Bangkok Post
Thu, May 23, 2013 02:03:34 AM
Bangkok Post
The Department of Civil Aviation has given PC Air one last chance to fly, warning that if passengers are left stranded again the privately owned airline will be grounded.
The warning came in talks involving the department, Deputy Transport Minister Chatchart Sithipan and the airline's executives on Friday after PC Air's only plane, an Airbus 310-222, was refused take off clearance for unpaid bills at Incheon International Airport in South Korea on Tuesday and the passengers were stranded.
The department decided not to revoke the airline's operating licence at this time, as many people have bought tickets on future flights, but it will ground the airline immediately if their is a recurrence of the problem, the deputy minister said.
The PC Air's licence has to be renewed every month. The present one expires at the end of this month.
It was the first time PC Air has had such a problem. It was the result of a disagreement between the airline and its Korean agent, Skyjet, that include unpaid bills for airport charges and jet fuel amounting to more than 10 million baht.
The department will draft new ministerial regulations on protection of passengers' rights on both domestic and international charter flights
Besides PC Air, Thailand has five other airlines providing international charter flights -- Jet Asia Airways, City Airways, Solar Aviation, U Airlines and Siam General Aviation.
Executives of the six airlines will hold talks with the Transport Ministry next Friday to discuss stricter protection of passengers' rights.
Angry passengers have filed complaints with the Crime Suppression Divison seeking compensation from PC Air for not providing the services they paid for.
