Suvarnabhumi Blames Thai Airways Staff Shortage For Baggage Delays

Kittipong Kittikajorn, director of Suvarnabhumi Airport, revealed on September 27 that the airport received complaints from Thai Airways passengers about delayed outbound flights and long waits for baggage claim on arriving flights. The issues began on September 26 and continued through September 27. An investigation found that flooding across Bangkok disrupted travel for ground handling staff of Thai Airways, preventing some workers from reaching the airport and reducing the available workforce. Additionally, some of the airline's baggage carts malfunctioned, hampering both outbound flight services and inbound baggage handling. As a result, some flights were delayed and arriving passengers experienced longer-than-normal waits for luggage, with baggage left unclaimed from multiple flights. The airport authority has coordinated with Thai Airways to urgently increase ground staff levels, repair defective carts, and source replacement equipment to improve baggage handling efficiency and clear backlog. Information displays and announcements about baggage status are being provided in baggage claim areas, and airport staff are stationed to assist passengers. Passengers awaiting baggage can file delayed baggage reports through Thai Airways and contact the Lost and Found center at Suvarnabhumi Airport by phone: International flights 02-134-5453 to 55, Domestic flights 02-134-5473 to 74, or THAI Contact Center 02-356-1111. The airport authority will closely monitor the situation and work with Thai Airways to resolve the staffing shortage and restore normal service operations as quickly as possible. Thai Airways confirmed that the baggage delays resulted from widespread Bangkok flooding that prevented some ground service employees from traveling to Suvarnabhumi Airport, creating staff shortages in the baggage delivery section, and the airline is working to address the problem urgently.