Thai Airways Cancels 60 More Flights as Flooding Disrupts Operations
Thai Airways cancelled 60 flights on September 29 due to severe flooding preventing ground staff from reaching the airport, affecting half its daily operations and disrupting services for other carriers as well.
On September 29, Chai Eamsiri, Chief Executive Officer of Thai Airways Public Company Limited, announced that the airline must cancel an additional 60 flights today, representing 50 percent of its daily operations. The previous day, September 28, saw 60 flights canceled for the same reason. The cancellations stem from severe flooding that has rendered ground staff unable to reach their workplaces.
The staff shortage has created a cascading impact on other airlines as well, since Thai Airways provides ground services for multiple carriers at the airport. The airline has already engaged Thai Airport Services Company to assist with operations and has transferred some customer accounts to that company.
Floding has eliminated approximately 50 percent of Thai Airways' ground staff, with fewer than 20 employees currently operational. Most staff live in areas surrounding the airport that have been inundated. The airline has appealed for employee assistance and coordinated with the Royal Thai Air Force to dispatch military vehicles to pick up affected workers and transport them to the airport.
Thai Airways is working urgently to resolve the crisis and expects normal operations to resume within approximately 2-3 days.
