Photo: Rafael Rodrigues / Pexels
Thai Airways passengers flying through Suvarnabhumi Airport should expect delays. Flooding around Bangkok has left several ground handling staff unable to get to work, and combined with mechanical problems affecting several baggage carts, it's slowing down departures and baggage claim for arriving flights. The disruption began on September 26, 2026 and is still ongoing as of this article's publish time on September 27.
What's Happening
Suvarnabhumi Airport has confirmed it received passenger complaints about delays and baggage collection issues. The root cause is flooding in several areas around the airport, which has prevented some Thai Airways ground handling staff from reaching work. This has left the airline understaffed at a time when it's also dealing with mechanical problems on several baggage carts, which is disrupting the loading, handling, and transfer of luggage on both departing and arriving flights.
As a result, some flights have departed later than scheduled, and luggage from multiple flights remains uncollected.
What's Being Done
Suvarnabhumi Airport is coordinating with Thai Airways to add more ground staff, repair the broken baggage carts, and bring in replacement equipment. In the meantime, baggage status updates are being posted on flight information screens, and announcements are being made in baggage claim areas to keep passengers informed. Extra airport staff have also been deployed to passenger service areas and baggage claim to help travelers.
Thai Airways is asking any passenger with undelivered luggage to file a delayed baggage report so it can be tracked and delivered.
What This Means for Tourists
If you're flying Thai Airways through Suvarnabhumi, especially around September 26-27, 2026, build in extra buffer time for departures and connections. Both the staffing shortage and the baggage cart issues could add delays.
If you've arrived and your bags haven't shown up yet, check the flight information screens and listen for announcements before assuming your luggage is lost. If your checked bags don't turn up, file a delayed baggage report right away rather than waiting it out at the carousel.
It's worth noting this is a ground-handling and staffing disruption, not a wave of flight cancellations, so there's no indication travelers need to look into rebooking, just plan for delays.
Contact Numbers
<table> <tr><th>Service</th><th>Number</th></tr> <tr><td>Thai Airways Lost and Found (international flights)</td><td>02-134-5453 to 55</td></tr> <tr><td>Thai Airways Lost and Found (domestic flights)</td><td>02-134-5473 to 74</td></tr> <tr><td>THAI Contact Centre</td><td>02-356-1111</td></tr> <tr><td>AOT Contact Centre (24 hours)</td><td>1722</td></tr> </table>
Wider Flooding Impact
This disruption is part of broader flooding affecting transport and daily life around Bangkok and beyond. Don Mueang Airport remains open despite the flooding. Asian Games teams were delayed 8 hours because of the floods, and the State Railway of Thailand cancelled 10 eastern-line trains due to floodwater on the tracks. Bangkok has closed more than 400 schools, and flooding in Chanthaburi has reached 1 metre in some areas, prompting evacuations.
Information sourced from The Thaiger.