- Thai Airways suspended CEO Chai Eamsiri on 2 October 2026 following flooding disruption in Bangkok
- Between 5,000 and 10,000 bags were stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport
- Bangkok received 320 mm of rain over three days
- The airline cut departures by 30pc to 40pc in the short term
- Sumrid Sumneing was appointed acting CEO pending investigation
Thai Airways International has suspended its chief executive Chai Eamsiri following severe disruption caused by flooding in Bangkok. The carrier has cancelled dozens of domestic and international flights and has left thousands of pieces of luggage delayed at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The board has launched investigations into crisis management, outsourcing and procurement practices.
The board sidelined the chief executive on Friday 2 October 2026 after widespread flight cancellations, scheduling delays and a backlog of stranded luggage initially estimated between 5,000 and 10,000 bags sparked public backlash. Director Sumrid Sumneing was appointed as the acting CEO while a formal inquiry reviews the company’s crisis management failures. Bangkok was declared a disaster zone after receiving 320 mm of rain over a three-day period which paralysed local transit. Ground crews and tarmac personnel were physically unable to commute to work due to the high waters. Thailand’s Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul publicly rebuked the airline’s sluggish proactive response. The operational failure became so acute that the airline relied on the Royal Thai Air Force and military personnel to clear the baggage backlogs.
Chai Eamsiri shared he had been fired by the board, bringing an abrupt end to his tenure as CEO which began in 2023. To stabilise its remaining operations, the flag carrier confirmed it would cut departures out of Bangkok by 30pc to 40pc in the short term, transferring passenger loads to partner airlines while courier services work to deliver remaining luggage directly to travellers’ homes.
