Soldiers help clear baggage backlog at airport amid flooding

Soldiers were deployed to speed up the handling of gridlocked luggage at Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan province on Monday after city-wide flooding prevented many ground staff reporting for work, causing hours-long flight delays over the weekend.

Officials were also registering passengers who could not wait at the airport and arranging for their luggage to be delivered to their accommodation.

Defence Minister Lt Gen Adul Boonthamcharoen told reporters at Government House on Monday morning that he had been informed of the staff shortage at the airport. He would inspect the situation himself and assign defence personnel to assist with ground operations.

Luggage chaos has built up at the airport, in Samut Prakan province on Bangkok's outskirts, since Saturday, when widespread flooding in Bangkok prompted the declaration of a citywide disaster zone. 

The severe flooding in many areas has made it impossible for many ground crew members employed by Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) to travel to work.

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said late Sunday night that both domestic and international passengers were affected, with some waiting four to six hours for their baggage.

Thai Airways, which is responsible for baggage-handling, was now being assisted by air force personnel and THAI employees in other offices were also being reassigned to assist with baggage handling, Mr Surasak said.

He suggested the company create a quick response (QR) code system for baggage-delivery registration.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Siripong Angkasakulkiat, said it would take about three days for bags to be delivered after registration. He also confirmed that Thai Airways must take full responsibility for all costs and damages incurred.

Airports of Thailand (AOT) would also impose penalties on THAI if the delays were found to have been caused by breaches of conditions or regulations, Mr Siripong added.