Thai Airways suspends cargo acceptance amid flooding

Thai Airways has announced a seven-day temporary suspension of inbound and outbound cargo acceptance at its warehouse at Suvarnabhumi Airport, effective from September 30 to October 6, 2026.

The temporary embargo comes as ongoing flooding has disrupted staffing and cargo terminal operations, resulting in a backlog of shipments and delays in cargo deliveries and transfers to outbound flights.

Thai Cargo’s Terminal Operations Department issued a notice to customers on September 29 outlining the temporary embargo.

The suspension is intended to help the company manage the operational disruption and optimise the use of available staff and resources while maintaining safety and efficiency at the warehouse.

“Due to the ongoing flooding situation, employee commuting conditions continue to be affected, particularly in terms of workforce availability. As a result, some employees are unable to report for duty as scheduled. This situation has significantly affected cargo terminal operations, resulting in delays in the delivery of cargo to customers and the transfer of cargo to outbound flights.

Therefore, Thai Cargo Terminal Operations is required to temporarily suspend the acceptance of both inbound and outbound cargo (Embargo) at the Thai Airways Cargo Terminal from 30 September - 06 October 2026, in order to allow the operational situation to stabilise and to facilitate the resumption of normal cargo services as soon as possible,” the notice said.

The company acknowledged the impact on customers and apologised for the inconvenience caused by the situation. It also expressed its appreciation for customers’ patience and cooperation during the disruption.

Bangkok has been declared a flood disaster zone following torrential rainfall that caused widespread flooding across the Thai capital. The city received nearly 300 mm of rain within 48 hours, flooding roads, homes and residential areas and affecting many people.

The disruption led to numerous flight cancellations to and from Bangkok on Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving around 5,000 bags stranded at the airport. Thai Airways Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chai Eamsiri addressed the issue in his first public remarks following days of baggage chaos, delays and cancellations at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The CEO apologised over the baggage crisis and set a 72-hour target to clear the backlog of luggage from the airport.