Heavy Rain Grounds 103 Flights at Suvarnabhumi Airport
Heavy rainfall across Thailand has grounded 103 flights at Suvarnabhumi Airport, with authorities implementing 24-hour monitoring and coordination measures as a severe monsoon system brings flooding risks through September 27.
Transport Deputy Minister Phattrapong Phattrasit has ordered the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Limited (AROT) and the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to closely monitor severe weather conditions 24 hours a day and coordinate with airlines, airports, and relevant agencies to prepare for travel disruptions while prioritizing passenger safety and flight operations. The Meteorological Department forecasts heavy to very heavy rainfall on September 26, 2025, across the northern, northeastern, and central regions, including Bangkok and surrounding areas, the eastern region, and upper southern Thailand. A strong low-pressure system moving along the monsoon trough, combined with an intensifying southwestern monsoon, will bring risks of flash flooding, flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging, especially in foothill and low-lying areas from September 26–27. The AROT has prepared four categories of response measures: (1) Flight operations and air traffic services to handle aircraft detouring around bad weather, go-arounds, diversions to alternate airports, and holding patterns with strict safety protocols; (2) Navigation support systems and air traffic control monitoring of navigation aids, communications, aircraft tracking, and supporting systems for 24 hours, with contingencies for power outages, thunderstorms, heavy rain, and flooding affecting facilities; (3) Runways, taxiways, and parking areas in close coordination with airports to manage impacts from rain and flooding on air traffic services; and (4) Buildings and facilities including air traffic control towers, navigation aid stations, and access routes, with continuous monitoring of heavy rain and flooding for immediate repairs. AROT has also established air traffic flow management procedures to ensure continuous and safe flight services, with standby staff for emergencies and enhanced surveillance and situation reporting. Currently, airports nationwide continue normal flight operations, though aircraft may need to avoid bad weather areas, causing some delays. Suvarnabhumi Airport has approximately 103 holding aircraft with an average delay of 16 minutes per flight.
