Thai Airways suspends CEO amid review of flood response

Thai Airways International has suspended its chief executive, Chai Eamsiri, following disruption to its services caused by severe flooding from Bangkok in late September. The carrier's board decided at a meeting on 2 October to open a fact-finding investigation and to review its crisis-management processes, the airline said. Eamsiri will be barred from carrying out his duties while that work continues.

Director Sumrid Sumneing has been appointed acting chief executive with immediate effect.

The airline said the flooding affected the aviation business and the company's reputation. Its hub at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport saw extensive disruption, with delays and staff unable to travel.

Thai Airways had been dealing with growing problems in scheduling and baggage handling. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand said the carrier had to adjust its flight schedules to match the aircraft and personnel available to it. Between 26 and 28 September, about 10,000 items of luggage were left stranded, the regulator said.

Ministry of defence staff were brought in to clear the baggage backlog, with Thailand Post helping to reconcile the items.

In remarks on 30 September, CAAT director Manat Chuwanaprayoon described restoring services, including flight management, cargo transport and baggage handling, as an urgent priority. He said the regulator would allow Thai Airways to issue a statement once the situation eased and to jointly analyse lessons from the incident, in order to set longer-term measures and improve readiness against similar impacts.