Thai Airways chief says he was fired by board after Bangkok flood chaos

Thai Airways' CEO, Chaiwat Sucharitakul, announced on Friday that he was dismissed by the board for allegedly failing to address gaps in work following the severe flooding in Bangkok. The board sought to determine if there were any errors in the handling of the crisis. Thai Airways disclosed in a stock exchange filing that Chai had been temporarily suspended while an investigation into the situation and a review of the airline's crisis management procedures were conducted. Until then, Sumrid Sumneing, a director, assumed the role of acting CEO.

The airline faced significant challenges due to the flooding, which forced the cancellation of numerous flights and suspended cargo operations. The disruption at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport resulted in extensive baggage delays, leading the Thai Air Force to assist in clearing the backlog. Bangkok was recently declared a disaster-affected zone after receiving an unprecedented 320mm of rain over three days, equivalent to the typical rainfall for the entire month of September.

Minister of Tourism in Thailand, Surasak Phancharoenworakul, criticized Thai Airways for its performance, stating that if the company did not want to fulfill its responsibilities, it should resign. Chaiwat Sucharitakul joined Thai Airways in 1985 and held various positions before becoming CEO in 2023. As of June 30, Thai Airways operated 84 aircraft serving 61 destinations across 27 countries.

The airline had previously entered bankruptcy-protected restructuring in 2020, which involved halving its workforce and reducing its fleet. Thai Airways exited its debt restructuring program in August, and its shares resumed trading on the stock market.