Thailand: Article 44 used on 4 issues of airlines, travel, medical supplies and electricity

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Tuesday approved the use of special powers to handle 4 major issues, including 2 involving airlines. The first seeks to pave the way for the revocation of substandard airlines that are registered in Thailand, the second discontinues Thais’ use of departure and arrival cards. A govt spokesman said the NCPO exercised Article 44 of the interim constitution to empower the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand to revoke the permits of between 10 and 12 Thai-registered airlines that failed to meet safety and related requirements of the ICAO. The NCPO also exercised the power to revoke arrival and departure cards, known as TM6, for Thai travellers. The move is to solve problems of delaying the arrival and departure of Thais, to facilitate travel for Thai nationals. <br/>