On 7 September 2026, during the 61st Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation, Asia and Pacific Regions (DGCA/61) in Malaysia, Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), together with the Thai delegation, held bilateral meetings with senior representatives of the civil aviation authorities of Mongolia, the Philippines, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), and Bhutan. The meetings aimed to strengthen relations, expand civil aviation cooperation, and exchange views on the development of the aviation sector.
During the meeting with the Civil Aviation Authority of Mongolia, led by Mr. Turbayar Erdene-Ochir, Director General, both sides discussed opportunities to promote air services between Thailand and Mongolia under the bilateral Air Services Agreement, with a view to enhancing air connectivity and facilitating greater travel between the two countries.
At present, no Thai airlines operate services to Mongolia, while Mongolian airlines provide seasonal services on the Ulaanbaatar–Bangkok and Ulaanbaatar–Phuket routes, with three flights per week on each route. These services are suspended during the summer schedule and resume during the winter schedule. CAAT expressed its readiness to provide regulatory guidance and support within its mandate should airlines wish to launch or increase services between the two countries.
Both sides also reviewed cooperation under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two authorities in 2022, including knowledge and experience sharing in aviation safety oversight. CAAT previously shared Thailand’s experience and approaches in preparing for an ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) audit with the Civil Aviation Authority of Mongolia ahead of its audit conducted from 22 April to 5 May 2026.
During the meeting with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), led by Atty. Danjun G. Lucas, Deputy Director General for Administration, the Thai delegation expressed its best wishes and support for the Philippines as it prepares for an audit under the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP CMA) in September 2026. CAAT also reaffirmed its readiness to exchange experience and knowledge in aviation safety oversight, contributing to the continued enhancement of civil aviation standards across the region.
In the bilateral meeting with the Department of Civil Aviation of Lao PDR (DCAL), led by Mr. Viengxay Singkham, Director General, both sides discussed the possibility of studying a pilot project for cross-border cargo transportation using Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) between Thailand and Lao PDR. The initiative could provide an opportunity to explore appropriate operational models, regulatory frameworks, and relevant standards, while enhancing connectivity and advancing the safe and appropriate application of emerging aviation technologies for transportation between the two countries.
CAAT also held discussions with the Bhutan Civil Aviation Authority, led by Mr. Kinley Wangchuk, Director General, to exchange views on civil aviation development and explore opportunities to expand cooperation between the two civil aviation authorities in the future.
On this occasion, CAAT invited the civil aviation authorities of the respective countries to participate in the ICAO Second Advanced Air Mobility Symposium 2026 (AAM 2026), to be hosted by Thailand from 1–3 December 2026 in Bangkok, under the theme “From Vision to Implementation: Enabling the AAM Ecosystem.” The symposium will serve as a platform for exchanging knowledge, experience, and perspectives on the development of Advanced Air Mobility, while supporting efforts to advance the AAM ecosystem toward safe, efficient, and practical implementation in line with international standards.
The Thai delegation also informed its counterparts of Thailand’s plan to establish a Thai aviation representative office in Montréal, Canada, where the headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is located. The initiative aims to strengthen Thailand’s capacity to closely follow and participate in ICAO’s policy, standards, and technical work, while enabling closer and more continuous coordination with ICAO and its Member States.
CAAT reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation among civil aviation authorities as an important mechanism for enhancing aviation safety standards, expanding air connectivity, facilitating knowledge exchange, and preparing for emerging aviation technologies. CAAT will also continue to strengthen Thailand’s participation at both the policy and technical levels, further advancing the country’s role in civil aviation at the regional and global levels.
