Photo: Markus Winkler / Pexels
Bags piled up at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok between Sept 26 and 28, 2026, and travellers flying via Bangkok may be affected. About 10,000 bags were caught in the backlog, which was caused by flooding and operational failures at Thai Airways International (THAI). By Wednesday, Sept 30, only about 18% had been cleared. Clearing the rest is expected to take 3 to 4 days. If you are heading to Koh Lanta through Bangkok, here is what is known and what to do about it.
What happened
- About 10,000 bags built up at Suvarnabhumi between Sept 26 and 28, 2026.
- The causes were flooding and operational failures by THAI.
- As of Wednesday (Sept 30), about 18% of the backlog had been cleared.
- About 1,800 bags had gone out for delivery to passengers who registered with the airline.
- The backlog covers only bags due in on Sept 26, 27 and 28. Other bags handled from Tuesday to Wednesday moved normally.
- Clearance is estimated at 3 to 4 days, at up to 2,000 bags per day.
Extra staff and recovery
Authorities added ground staff, including 100 soldiers on Wednesday. The extra people can only do physically demanding work. Some tasks still need THAI staff with specialised skills.
THAI CEO Chai Eamsiri said about 90% of frontline staff and about 80% of operational crew were back at work.
Flights
THAI cancelled more than 60 domestic and international flights in recent days. The airline is reportedly trying to limit flights so it does not add more baggage.
How bags are being handled
THAI set up a "war room" to speed up sorting. It contacts passengers using the details on record, and staff are matching bags to owners item by item.
- Domestic passengers and Thai nationals can collect bags in person or have them delivered to their accommodation. Thailand Post provides the delivery for free.
- Transit passengers are the biggest concern. Some refuse to continue their journeys until they get their bags back.
- THAI says it has insurance and will fully compensate for lost baggage. It will also cover costs from flight delays or changes.
Cargo
THAI had announced a suspension of inbound, outbound and transit cargo acceptance at its cargo terminal for Oct 1 to 6. The reason given was flood disruption to staff travel and warehouse operations.
The transport minister said cargo will likely be slowed rather than suspended. The Ministry of Transport, Airports of Thailand, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and THAI are coordinating, with updates every 8 hours.
The government briefing
Transport Minister and Deputy PM Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn gave the update at 4:40pm on Wednesday. It was livestreamed on the THAI Corporate Communications Facebook page. Also present were CEO Chai Eamsiri, Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat, and officials from Airports of Thailand and CAAT.
Phiphat said: "Our image has been tarnished. What happened today is spreading across social media around the world. No one can hide it." He added: "What we can do today is to solve this together."
He said the extra staff can only do heavy physical work, and specialised tasks still need THAI's own staff. The government told THAI to say what it lacks, and it will provide whatever is needed.
What this means for visitors to Koh Lanta
- Flying into Suvarnabhumi: bags arriving Sept 26 to 28 may still be stuck. Expect delays of several more days.
- Registering: make sure THAI has your contact details and delivery address. Registered passengers get priority contact and free delivery within Thailand via Thailand Post.
- Onward travel: if you connect to Koh Lanta (via Krabi, or domestic flights from Bangkok), check whether your bag was separated from you. Keep your baggage tags and claim receipts.
- Delays and cancellations: expect more THAI schedule changes. THAI says it will reimburse delay and change costs, so keep receipts.
- Lost bags: THAI says it will fully compensate. Keep a record of the claim and of essential purchases.
- Cargo: if you are shipping goods by air between Oct 1 and 6, expect slowdowns. Suspension is possible but not confirmed.
- Practical tip: carry essentials and medication in your hand luggage, and consider other airlines if your plans are flexible.
Information sourced from Bangkok Post.