Photo: Jeffry Surianto / Pexels
Thai Airways Baggage Chaos and Flight Cuts: What Travellers Need to Know
Heavy rain and flooding in Bangkok over the weekend left hundreds of Thai Airways International (THAI) employees stranded at home. Around 5,600 bags and about 330 flights were delayed, and THAI has cut its daily schedule by 30% while it resets. Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul spoke about the mess on Tuesday 29 September 2026. THAI's CEO has apologised, and a compensation claim process is open. If you are flying THAI through Bangkok in the coming days, here is what happened and how to plan around it.
What happened
Torrential rain and flooding hit Bangkok over the weekend. Hundreds of THAI staff could not get to Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang airports. About 300 ground staff and specialised personnel could not report for work. THAI has about 500 ground staff, so it was short roughly 200 to 300 people during the disruption.
Almost all THAI flights were delayed, about 330 in total. Around 5,600 pieces of luggage were delayed too. Bags overflowed the conveyor belts and piled up on the second floor of Suvarnabhumi's passenger terminal.
How THAI is responding
THAI normally runs about 110 flights a day. It has cut that by 30% (roughly 77 flights) so operations can reset and on-time performance can improve. It aims to clear the baggage backlog within three days, and a compensation claim process is open for affected passengers.
Other groups have stepped in:
- Three other delivery providers, including Thailand Post and THAI's existing provider, are helping to distribute bags.
- Airports of Thailand (AOT) helped with space allocation.
- The Royal Thai Air Force, the Defence Ministry and THAI headquarters staff supplied extra personnel.
CEO Chai Eamsiri apologised at a press conference. He said THAI's initial impact assessment was inaccurate.
What the government is saying
Minister Surasak said flooding was a factor, but the main cause was THAI's lack of operational readiness and management preparedness. He said he ran into the problems himself on a THAI flight back from Japan.
He also raised a possible contributing factor. THAI may have assigned staff to other airlines under ground-handling contracts to avoid contractual penalties. That would explain why THAI's own passengers suffered the worst delays.
He criticised THAI for not acting proactively despite offers of help from several agencies. He said THAI did not provide food or accommodation for the deployed military personnel, so soldiers went back to their units for meals. In his words: "Every agency tried to step in and help, yet there was no positive response or cooperation from Thai Airways."
He also said: "I believe Thai Airways executives need to adopt a more proactive approach. If they feel their term is ending and are unwilling to resolve these issues, they should consider resigning so that others who are truly committed can step in to manage the situation."
Surasak added that the mishandling has severely damaged Thailand's image and undermined confidence in its tourism sector.
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat warned: "If Thai Airways chooses not to look after its passengers, the business repercussions and damage will ultimately rebound on the company itself."
What this means for your trip
- Expect delays and cancellations. With daily flights cut by about 30%, THAI flights through Bangkok may be disrupted for the next several days.
- Checked bags may arrive late. The backlog was targeted to clear within about three days of 29 September, so by around 2 October.
- Pack smart. Allow extra connection time on THAI itineraries. Consider carry-on only, or keep essentials in your hand luggage.
- Check before you go. Look up your flight status before leaving for the airport. If a connection to Krabi, Phuket or another domestic leg is at risk, contact THAI about rebooking.
- Other airlines may be affected. Airlines that use THAI ground handling may also see knock-on delays.
- Claim if you were hit. Affected passengers can file a compensation claim through THAI's claims process.
Information sourced from Bangkok Post.