Thai Airways Dismisses CEO Chai Eamsiri Over Flood-Related Baggage Chaos and Flight Cancellations
The board of Thai Airways International dismissed Chief Executive Officer Chai Eamsiri on Friday following widespread mismanagement of flight schedules and severe baggage backlogs during heavy flooding in Bangkok that began on September 25, bangkokpost.com reported. Ministry of Finance permanent secretary and board chairman Lavaron Sangsnit led the decision to terminate Mr Chai and appoint former PTT Exploration and Production Plc executive Samrit Samniang as full-time acting chief executive to resolve the ongoing crisis.
Heavy rains brought 320 millimetres of rainfall to Bangkok over three days late last week—matching September’s typical monthly average—triggering a disaster declaration across the capital, according to Channel News Asia. The severe weather disrupted operations at Suvarnabhumi Airport, where roughly half of Thai Airways’ workforce was unable to report for work due to flooded roads, leaving thousands of pieces of luggage stranded and forcing the cancellation of dozens of flights. Airports of Thailand (AOT) reported that over 1,000 transit passengers were stranded by the flight cuts on September 30, while AOT mobilized airport employees to help sort a backlog exceeding 5,000 bags across cordoned-off baggage carousels.
Leadership Shakeup and Procurement Inquiry at the National Carrier
Beyond ousting Mr Chai due to ground service collapses and operational failures, bangkokpost.com reported that the Thai Airways board created a committee to probe separate claims involving the purchase of 860,000 bottles of wine, worth more than 800 million baht, from a single supplier. Mr Chai stated after the meeting that he had been informed of his removal but received no clear reason, though he will remain a company director while a fact-finding process takes place. Having joined the airline in 1985 and served as chief financial officer before becoming CEO in 2023, Mr Chai had previously won industry plaudits for steering the carrier through a bankruptcy-protected restructuring that reduced its workforce by half, trimmed its fleet, and returned its shares to trading on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in August 2025.
Flood Impacts Across Bangkok Infrastructure and Industrial Sites
The severe weather conditions forced the temporary shutdown of four Toyota plants due to disrupted parts deliveries and prompted Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to cut short a diplomatic trip to the United Kingdom to manage the disaster response, Channel News Asia reported. Government health ministry figures placed the national death toll at 40, while the Office of the National Water Resources placed six provinces on high alert as riverside communities in Ratchaburi underwent evacuations. Assistant Bank of Thailand Governor Chayawadee Chai-anant stated that flooding had affected services, retail, wholesale, and construction, though manufacturing impacts remained limited outside the automotive plant suspensions.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Thai Airways and Bangkok Flood Crisis
Why was Thai Airways CEO Chai Eamsiri dismissed?
The board of Thai Airways dismissed Mr Chai due to persistent operational failures, including extensive flight delays, ground service breakdowns, and severe baggage handling chaos at Suvarnabhumi Airport during the Bangkok floods. A separate committee was also formed to investigate allegations regarding the procurement of 860,000 bottles of wine valued at over 800 million baht.
Who has taken over leadership of the airline?
Samrit Samniang, a former executive of PTT Exploration and Production Plc and a current Thai Airways board member, was appointed as full-time acting chief executive officer by board chairman Lavaron Sangsnit to stabilise operations and clear backlogs.
How many flights and pieces of luggage were affected by the disruptions?
Thai Airways cancelled approximately 75 flights on September 30 and announced the cancellation of 24 additional flights scheduled for October 1 and October 2 to address a backlog exceeding 10,000 pieces of luggage and cargo. Airports of Thailand reported that over 1,000 transit passengers were stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport during the peak of the disruption.
What is the status of Bangkok’s flood emergency?
Bangkok was declared a disaster-affected zone after receiving 320 millimetres of rain over three days, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and a newly established war room monitoring floodwaters flowing in from the north. Authorities reported that 40 people have died nationwide, and officials aimed to drain canal waters to return conditions to normal within two to three days.
Following the session, Mr Chai noted that while he had been notified of his ousting as CEO, he was not provided with a specific explanation.