SIA’s NokScoot suffers as Thai aviation safety woes mount

Its launch date has been delayed indefinitely.

SIA’s NokScoot joint venture has been an unwitting victim from the safety concerns levelled against Thailand-based airlines.

A report by OCBC noted that the launch date for NokScoot, which had originally been set in May 2015, has been delayed indefinitely until Thailand resolves its safety problems and restrictions and bans are lifted.

NokScoot’s charter flights to Japan have either been cancelled or rescheduled onto Scoot’s flights. It also had to suspend ticket sales to South Korea since operating permit is unlikely to be approved on time.

“We believe the impact on Singapore-based carriers from the safety concerns raised by ICAO is likely to be short-term especially since Thailand’s government has shown commitment and took initiatives with the target to resolve all the issues by end of the year,” stated OCBC.