Bangkok:Thai Airways has been criticized for its handling of stranded luggage, which has caused inconvenience to passengers and damaged Thailand's tourism image.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Surasak Panjaroenvorakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, expressed his concerns over the airline's management issues, particularly the backlog of luggage and flight delays. He had personally faced these problems on a recent return trip from Japan.

The minister stated that the incident has severely impacted the country's image and tourism confidence. Although part of the issue was due to flooding preventing employees from traveling to work normally, the primary cause was attributed to Thai Airways' management unpreparedness. It is believed that the airline deployed its staff for ground handling services for other airlines to avoid contractual penalties, leading to delays for its own passengers. Suvarnabhumi Airport confirmed that the delays were not weather-related but were due to technical and management shortcomings on the part of the airline.

Feedback from agencies involved in providing assistance indicated a lack of proactive measures and cooperation from Thai Airways. The airline was criticized for not providing food or accommodation for assisting personnel, forcing soldiers involved in the aid to return to their units for meals.

Mr. Surasak emphasized the need for better cooperation from Thai Airways, noting that the lack of response and collaboration affected both passengers' convenience and the country's reputation. He suggested that executives nearing the end of their terms should consider stepping down if they are not committed to resolving these issues.

Furthermore, he recommended that the Minister of Finance convene a meeting of Thai Airways' board of directors to address the company's problems and impacts seriously, as the Ministry of Finance is the major shareholder.