Bangkok declared a disaster status across all 50 districts from 25/9 after nearly 300 mm of rain fell within about 48 hours. On 27/9, the Thai cabinet approved two special holidays on 28-29/9 for Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, and Samut Prakan. This measure aims to ease traffic congestion and assist residents in flooded areas. Essential public services remain operational, while businesses decide their own work arrangements.

Residents wade through flooded streets in Bangkok on 28/9. Photo: Reuters

Travelers advised to arrive at airports early

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) advises passengers using Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports to check flight statuses before departure. They should also allow extra travel time due to flooding impacting access routes.

At Don Mueang, water levels of about 10 cm at some entrances and exits are causing congestion in surrounding areas. Passengers should allow two to three hours to reach the airport, prioritizing expressways or the Red Line to Don Mueang station, then walking via the Skywalk.

Suvarnabhumi remains fully operational, but the Lat Krabang route is deeply flooded. Passengers are recommended to use Motorway 7 or Burapha Withi Expressway. International travelers should arrive at least three hours before their flight, and domestic travelers two hours.

At Suvarnabhumi Airport, many international passengers reported waiting up to six hours for checked baggage last weekend. This was reportedly due to some Thai Airways staff being unable to reach work because of flooded roads, while some baggage tugs experienced technical issues.

Some flights departed Bangkok without fully loading passengers' checked baggage. For example, a Thai Airways flight to Nagoya was delayed by about eight hours due to baggage handling processes.

Airport authorities stated they are increasing staff, repairing equipment, and requiring airlines to regularly update baggage status to assist passengers.

Many airlines offer free ticket changes

Several airlines have introduced flexible policies for travelers affected by the flooding. Thai AirAsia and Thai AirAsia X allow passengers with flights to or from Bangkok between 26-28/9 to change their flight date once for free within seven days or retain the ticket value for two years.

Thai Vietjet offers a one-time free change within seven days for passengers flying via Suvarnabhumi between 26-30/9. Alternatively, passengers can convert their ticket value into a voucher valid for 180 days.

Nok Air permits passengers with flights to or from Don Mueang between 26-28/9 to change their flight free of charge within 30 days. They also have the option to receive a voucher equivalent to 100% of the ticket price.

Thai Airways allows passengers with eligible tickets for flights to or from Bangkok from 26/9 to 11/10 to change their flight date once for free. Canceled flights are eligible for refunds.

Travelers needing assistance can contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) hotline at 1672.

Thailand prepares support plans for diverted aircraft

To manage potential flight diversions, CAAT requested the Royal Thai Navy to keep U-Tapao Airport in Rayong province operational 24/7 for one week, instead of its usual nighttime closure. This measure aims to provide additional diversion options for aircraft and reduce pressure on Bangkok's aviation system. U-Tapao is about 140 km from Bangkok and 40 km from Pattaya.

Is it safe to travel to Thailand now?

According to travel experts from Time Out magazine, the current situation in Bangkok is not safe for tourists. Record rainfall of up to 330 mm within 48 hours last weekend prompted Thailand's capital to declare a state of emergency.

Major roads are flooded, with residents wading through waist-deep water and many automobiles partially submerged. The city governor stated that the situation "endangers residents' lives" and could cause significant damage to both private and public property.

The TAT office in Chengdu, China, reported that the flooding is significantly impacting tourist sentiment. However, major destinations such as Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai are not directly affected and continue to welcome visitors as usual.

TAT anticipated about 250,000 Chinese visitors to Thailand during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, projecting approximately 11.5 billion THB (over 9,000 billion VND) in tourism revenue. However, the agency estimates that visitor numbers could decrease by 10-20% due to the flooding's impact.

Anh Minh (According to Chiang Rai Times, Human Resources Online, Nation Thailand)