Thai Airways Trims Flight Schedule as Bangkok Battles Severe Flood Aftermath
Thai Airways cancels flights and manages baggage backlogs as Bangkok recovers from record-breaking rainfall. Get the latest on travel and flood impact.
POLICY WIRE — Bangkok, Thailand — Thailand’s national carrier, Thai Airways, is struggling to restore normal operations this Tuesday, September 29, following a period of intense rainfall that has left the capital city waterlogged.
Chief Executive Chai Eamsiri confirmed that the airline is cutting approximately 30 flights, representing about 30 percent of its scheduled departures from Bangkok. This reduction in service is expected to remain in effect for at least three days.
The operational strain has been significant, with Chai noting that nearly 100 percent of flights over the previous two days faced delays, while fewer than 3 percent managed to depart on schedule due to unsustainable ground capacity.
Official announcements via Facebook confirmed cancellations for Tuesday and Wednesday, including routes between Bangkok and Singapore, specifically flights TG407 and TG408. Additional international routes impacted by the disruption include New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Frankfurt, Munich, and Brussels.
The crisis follows a deluge of roughly 320mm of rain that struck Bangkok over a two-to-three-day period last week, an amount nearly equal to the city’s typical total rainfall for the entire month of September.
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While Bangkok’s primary airports remained operational throughout the weekend, baggage handling at Suvarnabhumi International Airport suffered severe setbacks. To mitigate the crisis, 69 Thai Air Force personnel were deployed on Monday to assist with ground operations.
Chai stated that approximately 5,600 pieces of luggage are currently stranded at the airport, though he expects the backlog to be cleared within 72 hours. Government officials anticipate that floodwaters in the capital will recede within three days, provided no further heavy rain occurs.
The broader economic impact of the flooding is substantial, with Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa reporting that 1,267 businesses across 40 provinces have been affected, including 52 factories and 1,162 small and medium enterprises. Nationwide, the estimated economic damage has surpassed US$320 million.
Government spokesperson Ekkapob Pianpises confirmed that the Thai cabinet is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to discuss long-term flood mitigation strategies and recovery efforts.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
