Thai Airways adds staff and seeks more storage to clear Suvarnabhumi cargo backlog

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited has outlined measures to clear a large backlog of inbound cargo at Suvarnabhumi Airport, including increasing staffing levels, obtaining additional forklifts and working with airport authorities to secure temporary storage space.

The airline acknowledged that a sustained increase in incoming air freight had left numerous unit load devices (ULDs) awaiting cargo sorting and storage, delaying the delivery of some shipments.

Thai Airways apologised to customers, partner airlines and affected businesses, confirming that it was mobilising additional personnel, equipment and resources to clear outstanding cargo and restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

The airline has introduced four measures to address the situation, focusing on operational capacity, additional storage space, cargo management and cooperation with relevant agencies.

To accelerate cargo handling, Thai Airways is increasing staffing levels and procuring more forklifts to speed up the sorting, storage and delivery of goods. Shipments will also be prioritised to help reduce the backlog.

The airline is working with Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) to secure additional temporary storage space and ease congestion in the warehouse. Other options for managing available space will also be considered, subject to safety requirements and relevant regulations.

Thai Airways also plans to introduce a warehouse management system covering the entire handling process, from receiving and sorting cargo to identifying storage locations and arranging deliveries.

The system will support continuous monitoring and reporting of inbound and outbound cargo volumes, as well as outstanding shipments. This will allow the airline to assess warehouse conditions, plan staffing and equipment requirements, and adjust operations promptly.

The fourth measure involves closer cooperation with AOT and other relevant agencies to improve overall operational efficiency.

Thai Airways and AOT will jointly promote the AOT Cargo Clearhouse system and encourage businesses to use it to help accelerate cargo deliveries.