Hongkongers stranded in Thailand after airline grounded over safety fears

Safety concerns and worries over lax aircraft maintenance forced the grounding of a Hong Kong-backed regional airline that has left hundreds of holidaymakers from the city stranded in Phuket, Thailand, Thai officials have said.

Aviation authorities in Thailand have revoked landing rights for City Airways, and yesterday the airline - which has been operating regular flights since October 2012 - asked Hong Kong to cancel its parking slots at Chek Lap Kok airport.

"We were concerned about passenger safety following a report that revealed that City Airways has not been following proper procedures during maintenance on their planes," Santi Pawai, the director of the ministry of Tourism and Sports Phuket office, told the yesterday.

The latest developments effectively ground the airline as it can no longer use three of the five airports it serves, Hong Kong, Phuket and Bangkok's Don Mueang International. Flight schedules for the two mainland airports it serves - Nanchang Changbei International Airport and Nanjing Lukou International Airport - do not mention City Airways.

John Findlay, a former general secretary of the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association, said: "Safety comes first. It's absolutely correct that they have suspended operations.

"But the Thai authorities have to investigate first before Hong Kong civil aviation department is in a position to act. It's often the case that shortcutting in safety maintenance is a cost-cutting strategy."