Bangkok: The Supreme Administrative Court has ordered the revocation of the Ministry of Labor’s announcement that granted permission for foreign pilots to operate on domestic routes. This decision came in response to concerns about the improper issuance of the announcement and its impact on career opportunities for Thai pilots.

According to Thai News Agency, the court judgment nullifies the Ministry of Labor’s prior declaration, which allowed foreign pilots to work in the Kingdom under a wet lease arrangement, as per the Aviation Act dated December 13, 2024. This revocation takes effect immediately from the date of the court’s ruling. The legal action was initiated by the Thai Pilots Association and its president, who contested the Ministry’s announcement. The announcement had originally been issued in response to a request from a private aviation company seeking to temporarily employ foreign pilots on domestic routes to support a government policy aimed at boosting domestic tourism.

The Supreme Administrative Court’s decision highlighted the provisions of the Alien Employment Management Act B.E. 2560 (2017), emphasizing that exemptions for foreign employment must align with national security and economic needs without undermining occupational opportunities for Thais. The court found that the announcement failed to meet these criteria, as it was based on a request from a private entity rather than a special case warranting such an exemption. Consequently, the court deemed the announcement as failing to protect the public interest, thereby constituting an unlawful exercise of discretion under the relevant administrative laws.