Thai Airways Faces Heavy Criticism Over Baggage Backlog Crisis
Thai Airways faces heavy criticism over a major baggage backlog at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, with the Tourism Minister warning the crisis is damaging Thailand's tourism image and reputation. Military personnel have been deployed to he
BANGKOK — Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul has criticized Thai Airways over a major baggage backlog at Suvarnabhumi Airport, saying the problem is damaging Thailand's image and tourism industry.
Surasak said he had visited the airport with officials from the Defence and Transport ministries and found that baggage handling by Thai Airways was facing serious problems.
He said Thai Airways was also handling baggage services for other airlines within its group, resulting in passengers waiting five to six hours or longer to collect their luggage.
Heavy rainfall had also prevented some Thai Airways ground staff, particularly baggage handlers, from reaching work, causing baggage to pile up at the airport.
More than 100 military personnel have been deployed to help move and deliver the stranded baggage. The bags will be sent to passengers' hotels or homes, although the minister acknowledged that military personnel may not have the same expertise as airline staff.
Thai Airways has indicated that it could take three to four days to deliver the baggage.
Surasak said the baggage problems had also affected other flights, as aircraft carrying stranded baggage could not operate their next flights and departing passengers' luggage could not be loaded onto aircraft.
He criticized Thai Airways management for assigning its staff to support other airlines in the group, saying this appeared to have contributed to the disruption at Thai Airways itself.
The minister also said military personnel sent to help were not provided with food or accommodation by the airline. They had to return to their units for meals before coming back to assist with baggage handling.
Surasak said the situation was particularly concerning because Thai Airways represents Thailand internationally and the disruption could affect the country's image and tourism sector.
He called for Thai Airways management to take a more proactive approach, saying executives who were not prepared to continue working should consider stepping down.
The minister said he had personally experienced the problem after returning from the Asian Games and was unable to receive his own baggage immediately.
He added that there were currently no tourists stranded at the airport because Suvarnabhumi remained open and flights were operating normally. Weather-related delays had also eased, with remaining delays attributed to technical issues affecting Thai Airways' operations.
Surasak said his main concern was the delivery of passengers' baggage.
He also suggested that the Finance Minister should call a meeting of the Thai Airways board to discuss the impact of the baggage crisis, saying the airline had been recovering financially but the latest disruption had again damaged its reputation.
Although Thai Airways is now a private company, with the Finance Ministry as its largest shareholder, Surasak said the airline could potentially be brought back under state ownership.
