Thai Airways CEO Fired Over Baggage Crisis In Bangkok

(MENAFN- Bangladesh Monitor) Dhaka: Thai Airways International (THAI) has removed Chief Executive Officer Chai Eamsiri with immediate effect after a week of flight disruptions and a severe baggage backlog at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, caused by flooding.

Local media reports said the airline's board made the decision at a special meeting on October 2. Board Chairman Lavaron Sangsnit appointed Director and Executive Committee Member Samrit Samniang as acting CEO. Chai will stay on as a director while a fact-finding investigation into the disruption is conducted.

Heavy rain and flooding hit Bangkok and nearby provinces from September 25. Many of THAI's ground-handling staff could not report for work because their homes were flooded or because they stayed to protect their families and property, even after the airline sent vehicles to collect them.

The shortage of staff quickly disrupted baggage handling, flight operations, and ground services at Suvarnabhumi, the carrier's main hub. On September 28 alone, 34 THAI flights were delayed. Bags from 52 flights operated on September 26 and 27 had not been sorted and delivered two to three days later.

Chai said the airline was hit harder than other carriers because Suvarnabhumi is its busiest base and THAI also handles ground services for partner airlines. He apologized publicly and said the airline "offers no excuses."

To clear the backlog, Airports of Thailand arranged extra manpower from the Royal Thai Air Force, other military personnel, and Thailand Post, who helped deliver bags directly to passengers' homes and hotels. THAI also shifted part of its third-party ground-handling work to other providers and expanded its call center from two lines to 24.

On September 30, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul inspected the airport and urged THAI executives to consider resigning if they were unwilling to resolve the crisis, saying it was damaging Thailand's image.

He accused the airline of assigning its limited ground staff to partner airlines to avoid contractual penalties, leaving its own passengers without enough support. Local media carried similar reports. The minister also criticized how the airline coordinated with the soldiers sent to help, arguing they were not provided food or accommodation.

Surasak and Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat both called for an urgent board meeting. The Finance Ministry is THAI's largest shareholder.

To stabilize operations, the airline cut its schedule further, canceling 15 flights on October 1 and nine on October 2. It plans to resume full operations on October 3.

The board cited persistent operational failures, including flight delays, baggage handling problems, and wider ground service breakdowns. Chai now faces two internal investigations.

The first examines the operational breakdown, including concerns that ground and cargo work was outsourced through several layers of subcontractors. The second concerns the purchase of about 860,000 bottles of in-flight wine from a single supplier, worth more than THB 800 million, equivalent to USD 24 million.

The airline said it will review its management structure and its employment arrangements for ground and warehouse staff to prevent a recurrence.

Chai told local press he had not been given a clear explanation for his removal. He said the non-executive directors continued the meeting without him and that he learned of the decision before returning to the room. "I found out from the news," he said.

He stressed that the removal came as operations were nearly back to normal, with most of the baggage backlog expected to be cleared within two days. He declined to say whether internal politics played a role.

Chai, who has worked in the industry for 41 years, rose through THAI's finance function. He became Chief Financial and Accounting Officer in 2021 and chaired the airline's former subsidiary, Thai Smile Airways, from 2023 to 2025.

Spread the word More from Airlines and RoutesView All Latest NewsSee All Thai Airways CEO fired over baggage crisis in BangkokAirlines and Routes4 minutes ago Ministry officials receive first-ever civil aviation trainingInstitute/Training9 minutes ago EBL promotes Bangla QR across merchant networkBanking and Finance12 minutes ago Tourism Board names 16 recipients for Bangaldesh Tourism Awards 2026AwardsOct 2, 2026 Biman takes action over delayed Zamzam water deliveryAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 US-Bangla Airlines, Mastercard partner for fare discounts, travel rewardsAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 Ethiopian Airlines orders eight 777-8, two 777F freightersCargo and LogisticsOct 1, 2026 SriLankan Airlines runs A330 training program for Etihad examinersAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 Malaysia Airlines, China Southern expand codeshare partnershipAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 InterContinental Dhaka concludes IHG's Giving for Good Month with community initiativesHotelsOct 1, 2026 Modern trolleys handed over to Chattogram Airport for migrant workersNRB ConnectOct 1, 2026 Flyadeal seeks more Dhaka flights; Bangladesh proposes Dammam-Chattogram routeAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 dnata appoints Siobhán Meaney as MD of Catering and Retail in IrelandAviationOct 1, 2026 Vibrant opens 22nd sales center in SylhetFashionOct 1, 2026 Cox's Bazar eco-resort project targets USD 500m foreign investmentResortsOct 1, 2026 Prime Bank partners with Dashboard, D Autos to offer customer benefitsBanking and FinanceOct 1, 2026 Gulf Air launches direct Bahrain-Kuala Lumpur serviceAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 Turkish Airlines seeks three additional weekly flights to DhakaAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 Bangladesh remains lowest-ranked in APAC tourism development indexTourismOct 1, 2026 Bangladesh's narrow window to win Japan's appetite for new destinationsTourismOct 1, 2026 Air India, Adani Airports launch online duty-free shoppingAirport LoungeOct 1, 2026 Etihad adds second daily Sydney flightAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 Unruly passengers in sky: growing threat to aviation safetyAviationOct 1, 2026 Mousumi Mou signs deal as Ispahani Mirzapore Tea ambassadorCorporate PulseOct 1, 2026 Gentle Park celebrates 20 years with nationwide offerLife & StyleOct 1, 2026 MTB joins BB's export diversification refinancing schemeBanking and FinanceOct 1, 2026 Prime Bank, MHTC, Irving Aviation jointly ease medical travel to MalaysiaBanking and FinanceOct 1, 2026 KOI Thé Bangladesh secures halal certificationRestaurantsOct 1, 2026 German café chain Barock opens new outlet in Gulshan-2RestaurantsOct 1, 2026 Cox's Bazar airport begins trial operations at new international terminalAirports and InfrastructureOct 1, 2026 Dhaka's aviation paradox: Can single runway support airline boom?AviationOct 1, 2026 Bangladesh, Korea discuss greater investment in AI, shipbuildingTelecom and TechSep 30, 2026 Air Astra fleet doubles to six with third brand-new ATR 72-600Fleet and AircraftSep 30, 2026 BIHA delegation explores tourism opportunities in VietnamTourismSep 30, 2026 Report finds fresh details about Vietnam Airlines 787 takeoff overrunAirlines and RoutesSep 30, 2026 Radisson Blu Dhaka hosting culinary festival marking Tourism DayHotelsSep 30, 2026 Bangladesh seeks more flights to Türkiye, also from Chattogram, SylhetAviationSep 30, 2026 Nepal's civil aviation authority split bill nears cabinet approvalAviationSep 30, 2026 Airbus A350F freighter completes maiden flightCargo and LogisticsSep 30, 2026 Tokyo hits record 34 straight rainy daysVisa and Travel UpdatesSep 30, 2026 Diplomats call for targeted tourism promotion to put Bangladesh on global mapTourismSep 30, 2026 Crowne Plaza Dhaka Airport wins World Travel Award 2026AwardsSep 30, 2026 Global air cargo demand rises 4.4pc in August: IATACargo and LogisticsSep 30, 2026 Tourism, aviation, hospitality key areas for UK investment in BangladeshAviation Business Sep 30, 2026 MTB, Continental Hospital jointly offer health checkups to privilege customersBanking and FinanceSep 30, 2026 BB expands int'l card access for foreign airline ticket purchaseAviation Business Sep 30, 2026 Bangladesh seeks UK investment in tourism, help on air cargo restrictionsTourismSep 30, 2026 EU Ambassador, Expat Minister discuss safe migration, labor law reformsNRB ConnectSep 29, 2026 Kuakata Tourism Carnival 2026 to be held on October 23, 24TourismSep 29, 2026 DHL Aviation appoints two sales directors for AsiaCargo and LogisticsSep 29, 2026 Most PopularSee All The Way Dhaka dubbed Leading Boutique Hotel for second consecutive yearAwardsSep 29, 2026 Singapore offers technology support for border, immigration securityTravel TechSep 27, 2026 US-Bangla ranks 4th among South Asia's top regional airlinesAirlines and RoutesSep 26, 2026 Thai Airways waives date change fee for flood-hit travelersAirlines and RoutesSep 27, 2026 Qatar Airways quietly retires Airbus A330 fleet, sends pilots to RwandAirFleet and AircraftSep 27, 2026 Turkish Airlines seeks three additional weekly flights to DhakaAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 Air Astra fleet doubles to six with third brand-new ATR 72-600Fleet and AircraftSep 30, 2026 Institute/TrainingSep 27, 2026 Thai Airways cancels flights as baggage crisis strands passengersAirlines and RoutesSep 29, 2026 World Tourism Day 2026: Peninsula Chittagong launches Chattogram's Digital ItineraryHotelsSep 28, 2026 Bangladesh seeks more flights to Türkiye, also from Chattogram, SylhetAviationSep 30, 2026 ATR appoints new CEO, CFOFleet and AircraftSep 26, 2026 Airlines prepare for winter capacity cuts as fuel costs riseAviation Business Sep 26, 2026 Himalaya Airlines to add new route in China, resume anotherAirlines and RoutesSep 26, 2026 Bangladesh to observe World Tourism Day with focus on AI, digital tourismTourismSep 26, 2026 Airbus reveals date for A350F freighter's maiden flightCargo and LogisticsSep 27, 2026 Bangladesh, UAE discuss expanding jobs for skilled workers, aviation cooperationNRB ConnectSep 28, 2026 Boeing warns of 737 MAX software flaw in landing navigationFleet and AircraftSep 27, 2026 Airbus A350F freighter completes maiden flightCargo and LogisticsSep 30, 2026 Global airport passenger growth slows sharply in 2026: ACI WorldAirports and InfrastructureSep 26, 2026 Biman to sign Airbus deal in October, latest Boeing jets to cost USD 2.7bAviationSep 29, 2026 Cox's Bazar airport to start domestic flights from new terminal on September 28Airports and InfrastructureSep 26, 2026 Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan holds charity run for childrenHotelsSep 26, 2026 Tourism Board holds views-exchange meeting with industry stakeholdersTourismSep 28, 2026 Bangladesh Tourism Board marks World Tourism Day with colorful rallyTourismSep 27, 2026 DHL Express, Singapore Airlines renew Boeing 777 freighter partnershipCargo and LogisticsSep 26, 2026 EU Ambassador, Expat Minister discuss safe migration, labor law reformsNRB ConnectSep 29, 2026 First Emirates Boeing 777-9 rolls out of Everett factoryFleet and AircraftSep 29, 2026 No hidden agenda in Boeing deal: Humaiun KobirAviation Business Sep 28, 2026 Tourism Board names 16 recipients for Bangaldesh Tourism Awards 2026AwardsOct 2, 2026 BIHA delegation explores tourism opportunities in VietnamTourismSep 30, 2026 Diplomats call for targeted tourism promotion to put Bangladesh on global mapTourismSep 30, 2026 Dhaka's aviation paradox: Can single runway support airline boom?AviationOct 1, 2026 United receives first GTF Advantage-powered A321XLRFleet and AircraftSep 27, 2026 IATA urges wider cargo checks to curb hidden dangerous goodsCargo and LogisticsSep 27, 2026 Emirates opens £10m luxury lounge at Manchester AirportAviationSep 27, 2026 Prime Bank secures EUR 20m loan to expand MSME financingBanking and FinanceSep 26, 2026 Flyadeal seeks more Dhaka flights; Bangladesh proposes Dammam-Chattogram routeAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 Bangladesh's narrow window to win Japan's appetite for new destinationsTourismOct 1, 2026 Crowne Plaza Dhaka Airport wins World Travel Award 2026AwardsSep 30, 2026 Boeing's Singapore Training Campus celebrates its 20th anniversaryInstitute/TrainingSep 28, 2026 DHL Aviation appoints two sales directors for AsiaCargo and LogisticsSep 29, 2026 Bangladesh seeks UK investment in tourism, help on air cargo restrictionsTourismSep 30, 2026 SriLankan Airlines runs A330 training program for Etihad examinersAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 Bangladesh, Pakistan discuss strengthening connectivityTourismSep 28, 2026 World Tourism Day celebrated in Sajek Valley for first timeTourismSep 28, 2026 Malaysia-Bangladesh Tourism, Arts and Cultural Network launched in DhakaTourismSep 28, 2026 EBL signs two participation agreements with BBBanking and FinanceSep 28, 2026 Biman takes action over delayed Zamzam water deliveryAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 Vibrant opens 22nd sales center in SylhetFashionOct 1, 2026

MENAFN03102026000163011034ID1111754800