BANGKOK, Sept 29 — Thailand's flag carrier Thai Airways struggled to resume regular services today following heavy rain, though the government said floodwater in the capital Bangkok was expected to recede within three days if no more rain fell.
Its chief executive Chai Eamsiri told the media that they plan to cut about 30 flights, about 30 per cent of its planned departures from Bangkok, today.
The reduction in Thai Airways flights from Bangkok will last for at least three days.
"Almost 100 per cent of flights over the past two days were delayed, with fewer than three per cent on schedule as operational capacity could not be sustained," he said.
Bangkok was hit by around 320mm of rain over two to three days last week, nearly as much as the sprawling low-lying city usually gets in the whole of September.
In a statement, the Interior Ministry said that at least 23 people have been killed across Thailand, including four in Bangkok, due to heavy rains and floods in 42 provinces since September 16.
Although Bangkok's main airports kept running through the weekend rain and flooding, some baggage handling operations at Suvarnabhumi Airport were severely impacted, with 69 Thai Air Force personnel called in yesterday to support Thai Airways' ground operations.
Chai added that around 5,600 bags from Thai Airways flights remain stranded at the airport, but these would be cleared within 72 hours.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that the Thai Cabinet has approved over ฿4 billion (RM485.6 million) to address the impact of the floods, noting that another long-term drainage project costing ฿160 billion (RM19.42 billion) had also been given the go-ahead.
Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said that an estimated 1,267 businesses across 40 provinces have been affected by flooding, including 52 factories and 1,162 small and medium enterprises.
Nationwide, economic damage caused by the flooding was estimated at over US$320 million (RM1.3 billion).
