The Thai Shippers' Council urgently appeals to the government to resolve the issue of Thai Airways halting cargo acceptance at Suvarnabhumi warehouse from 1–6 Oct, highlighting severe export impacts, especially on electronic parts, and fearing Thailand may lose orders to competitors due to this.
Mr. Thanakorn Kasetsuwan, Chairman of the Thai Shippers' Council (TSC). He revealed that Thai Airways Public Company Limited announced a suspension of inbound, outbound, and transshipment cargo acceptance at its warehouse at Suvarnabhumi Airport from 1 to 6 October. TSC has submitted a letter to Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, informing him of the business sector’s difficulties and requesting urgent assistance to manage and resolve this problem. This announcement severely impacts the export sector’s supply chain. Although factories continue production and flights remain available, goods cannot be moved, leading to significant cargo backlogs.
"Supply chain movement is critical. When the system stalls, produced goods have nowhere to go even though flights can operate, causing cargo to accumulate at the airport, which should not happen and is regrettable. The worst problem arose when Thai Airways announced a 2–3 day suspension and instructed to delay shipments, resulting in massive cargo backlogs," he said.
Information from the Thai Shippers' Council indicates that most affected goods are electronic parts, which are small, lightweight, and numerous—best suited for air transport. They cannot be switched to sea freight (LCL) due to their delicate nature and lengthy transit times. Major affected markets include the U.S. and Asian countries such as South Korea and Taiwan, which rely on Thai parts for assembly.
Currently, the damage value is unclear because losses occur throughout the supply chain—from Thai manufacturers unable to deliver to overseas partners awaiting goods. For non-substitutable products, partners suffer as production halts. For substitutable products where only Thailand is unable to ship, buyers may switch suppliers, ultimately causing Thailand to lose orders.
"Regarding claims for damages against the airline, commercially, as long as the airline had not accepted bookings and gave prior notice, it is not breaching contracts. TSC does not intend to sue but wants Thai Airways to mobilize staff to resolve issues involving documents and cargo promptly to restore smooth transport."
. . . State Policy Additional