Thai Airways International has announced a temporary suspension of cargo services at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). The measure, effective from October 1 to October 6, 2026, impacts all inbound, outbound, and transit cargo handled at the airline's warehouse facilities.
Staff Shortages Cripple Cargo Operations
The primary reason for the disruption is the severe flooding across Bangkok, which has made commuting exceptionally difficult for many employees. This has led to a significant shortage of staff reporting for duty, directly affecting the airline's ability to manage warehouse operations, deliver cargo to customers, and transfer shipments to scheduled flights.
The operational challenges have resulted in a substantial backlog of cargo, prompting the temporary embargo. This suspension allows Thai Airways to reorganize its available manpower and resources to clear the accumulated shipments and restore efficient operations.
Exemptions and Wider Impact
While the suspension is broad, certain essential categories are exempt from the embargo. These include diplomatic documents, live animals, human remains, and mail, ensuring critical services can continue despite the widespread disruption.
The cargo service halt comes amid broader operational issues for Thai Airways at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The ongoing floods have also severely impacted passenger operations, leading to a major backlog of approximately 5,600 pieces of unprocessed baggage due to staff shortages. Over a two-day period, nearly all Thai Airways flights experienced delays, prompting the carrier to plan a temporary 30% reduction in departures from Bangkok.
Thailand has been grappling with extensive flooding, affecting 42 provinces and claiming at least 23 lives since September 16. Bangkok alone received around 320 mm of rainfall in three days, close to its monthly average, with estimated damages reaching $367 million.
Resumption Expected Post-October 6
Thai Airways stated that the temporary suspension is a strategic move to allow the airline to reorganize its workforce, clear the existing cargo backlog, and ensure the safe and efficient resumption of warehouse operations. Normal cargo acceptance is anticipated to resume after October 6, 2026, contingent on prevailing operational conditions.