Finance Minister Orders Team to Clear Thai Airways Baggage Backlog
We need to output a short summary 1-2 sentences, 120-220 characters, never >240. English only. Summarize the article: Thai finance minister acknowledges image damage from floods, orders team Thailand to resolve Thai Airways passenger and ba
Finance Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan apologized to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the floods, which prevented Thai Airways staff from reporting to work fully. The flooding began on September 26‑28, 2025, and some areas remain inundated while others see water levels recede or rise. He said that from September 26‑28 about 10,000 bags were left behind; between September 29 and 30 roughly 1,800 bags have been cleared and delivered, leaving around 8,000 still pending. Under normal capacity the airline can clear no more than 2,000 bags per day, so he expects another three to four days to finish the backlog.
The government has requested additional support from the Royal Thai Air Force, which has sent 100 personnel to help with lifting and moving luggage, although sorting the bags still requires Thai Airways staff with expertise in tagging and handling. Some of the bags are on the apron, while about 4,000 are inside facilities; the goal is to finish processing by October 1, though it may slip to October 2 due to the specialised sorting needed.
Cargo shipments have not been halted but may experience delays. Meetings were held on the evening of September 29, the morning of September 30, and at 16:00 on September 30 to manage the backlog. Thai Airways is asked to keep services running while extra staff and equipment are readied, and Airports of Thailand PLC (AOT) will allocate space and set up tents with rain protection for temporary storage of cargo.
Thai Airways and AOT must report progress every eight hours, with a follow‑up meeting scheduled for October 1 at 16:00. A baggage war room has been set up to identify owners; once matched, passengers can choose to collect their bags personally or have Thai Airways deliver them. For Thai nationals, delivery will be arranged automatically, while others who prefer to pick up must notify the airline.
Special attention is needed for transit and connecting passengers who risk missing onward flights; the airline will work to re‑accommodate them as part of the recovery effort.
