18 September 2025 — The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) hosted and chaired the 52nd ASEAN Air Transport Working Group (ATWG) and related meetings from 15–18 September 2025 at the Avani+ Riverside Bangkok. Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, Director General of CAAT, welcomed delegations from ASEAN Member States, officials from the ASEAN Secretariat, dialogue partners, international aviation bodies, and concerned Thai agencies. Mr. Saran Benjanirat, CAAT’s Deputy Director-General for Aviation Economic Development, served as Chair of the ATWG.
The ATWG provides a platform to strengthen regional air connectivity and cooperation across ASEAN, and to exchange views with dialogue partners on both economic and technical issues in aviation. Discussions at the 52nd meeting covered key policy areas aligned with the Kuala Lumpur Transport Strategic Plan (KLTSP) 2016–2025, including:
- Aviation safety
- Aviation security
- Air traffic management (ATM)
- Aviation environment and sustainability
Thailand—through CAAT—has had the honor of consecutively hosting and steering ATWG meetings from the 49th through the 52nd sessions, underscoring the country’s proactive role in advancing ASEAN air transport cooperation. This continued trust reflects Thailand’s growing capacity on the international stage and CAAT’s readiness to elevate civil aviation oversight standards while actively contributing to the region’s air-connectivity vision.
As Chair and host, CAAT reaffirmed its commitment to safe, secure, sustainable, and competitive air transport in ASEAN. By convening regulatory authorities, international organizations, and industry stakeholders, the 52nd ATWG helped to align priorities, advance technical collaboration, and support policy actions that will strengthen regional connectivity and deliver long-term benefits to passengers, operators, and economies across ASEAN.
