Thai Airways International’s board dismissed chief executive officer Chai Eamsiri on Friday after major disruptions to flight schedules, baggage handling and ground services left the national carrier struggling to recover from Bangkok’s heavy flooding.
The problems began as flooding hit the capital on September 25, triggering extensive delays and a mounting backlog of luggage and cargo.
The board said repeated operational failures had prompted a formal examination of senior management’s responsibility for the crisis.
At a meeting chaired by Lavaron Sangsnit, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Finance, directors appointed board member Samrit Samniang as full-time acting chief executive.
His immediate priorities are to restore reliable services, clear the backlog and rebuild confidence among passengers and the public.
Samrit previously held an executive role at PTT Exploration and Production Plc.
Speaking after the meeting, Chai said he had been notified of his removal but had not received a clear explanation for the decision. He will retain his position as a company director while the fact-finding process continues.
The board also established a committee to examine separate allegations involving the purchase of 860,000 bottles of wine, worth more than 800 million baht, from a single supplier.
The leadership change follows the airline’s announcement that it would cancel 24 flights scheduled for October 1 and 2 to help clear more than 10,000 pieces of accumulated luggage and cargo. The carrier had set October 3 as its target for returning to full operations.
Following Friday’s meeting, Thai Airways said it would reassess its management structure and review staffing arrangements for ground services and warehouse operations.
The review will include its use of external contractors and multiple layers of subcontracting as it seeks to prevent further disruption.
Chai, who had publicly apologised for the difficulties at Suvarnabhumi airport, joined Thai Airways in 1985. He later became chief financial officer before taking over as chief executive in 2023.
His departure comes after a period of financial recovery for the airline, which entered bankruptcy-protected restructuring in 2020. The overhaul included halving its workforce and reducing its fleet.
Chai received recognition from investors and industry figures for helping restore the carrier’s financial position. Thai Airways completed its debt restructuring programme before its shares resumed trading on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in August 2025.
As of June 30 this year, the airline operated 84 aircraft serving 61 destinations across 27 countries.
Thai Airways shares closed Friday at 5.70 baht, gaining 0.05 baht from the previous session, with trading turnover of 706 million baht.
