BANGKOK: The board of Thai Airways has taken action against chief executive Chai Eamsiri over the flag carrier's response to a flood crisis in Bangkok, with local media outlets on Friday reporting both his suspension and his dismissal.
Reuters could not immediately verify the information and Thai Airways did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation.
The airline had been forced to cancel dozens of flights this week and suspend its cargo operations, partly due to issues with its employees being unable to get to work when the floods hit last week.
Disruption to its operations at the main Suvarnabhumi Airport included huge baggage delays that required assistance from the Air Force to clear.
Bangkok was declared a disaster-affected zone at the weekend after receiving 320 mm (12.6 inches) of rain over three days, as much as it typically receives in all of September.
News outlets Matichon, Mitihoon, Daily News and Post Today reported that the CEO had been dismissed by the board, while Thansettakij and Money Channel said Chai had been suspended from duty.
As of June 30, the airline operated a total of 84 aircraft covering 61 destinations in 27 countries.
In 2020, Thai Airways went into bankruptcy-protected restructuring, reducing its workforce by half and trimming its fleet, but went on to mount a turnaround in its finances. Its shares resumed trading on the stock market in August, after exiting its debt restructuring programme. - Reuters
