The Minister of Tourism is concerned about passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport and is speeding up efforts to resolve delayed baggage issues caused by heavy rainfall affecting travel and incomplete baggage handling shifts. He is mobilizing forces to help clear the backlog of luggage.
27 Sep 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Surasak Pancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, along with Mr. Patsakorn Rangsiwatthanasak, the Minister's Secretary and Ministry Spokesperson, personally visited and monitored the situation at Suvarnabhumi Airport after reports indicated that both Thai and foreign passengers were affected by prolonged baggage claim delays lasting several hours.
From the visit and discussions with Thai Airways staff, it was found that heavy rain caused some baggage handlers to be unable to report for their shifts as usual, forcing previous shift workers to continue working without relief, leading to fatigue and decreased efficiency. Meanwhile, the backlog of baggage increased rapidly, with some flights' passengers waiting 4 to 6 hours to retrieve their bags.
Initially, Thai Airways has taken urgent measures to alleviate passenger distress and enable travelers to leave the airport as soon as possible as follows:
Mr. Surasak emphasized to executives and teams that although operational limitations during a crisis are understood, it is crucial to communicate information clearly and promptly to passengers. “Passengers should not disembark and face uncertainty without receiving information,” he said.
He also proposed additional measures, suggesting that if delays are anticipated, passengers should be informed before the plane lands so they can prepare and plan their journey. He also recommended creating a QR code system for baggage delivery registration that passengers can use during in-flight service. This would allow passengers who prefer not to wait to leave the airport immediately for their homes or hotels, reducing wait times, queues, and congestion at baggage claim areas and service counters.
At the same time, Mr. Surasak sent encouragement to all affected passengers, as well as to staff and workers who are diligently addressing the situation, urging all agencies to collaborate in resolving the problem quickly so that passenger travel can return to normal as soon as possible.