Published on January 17, 2026
Today, 1,121 flight cancellations and delays rocked Thailand travelers, hitting Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok (393 delays, 5 cancellations), Don Mueang Airport, Bangkok (366 delays), Phuket Intl Airport (170 delays), Chiang Mai Intl Airport (93 delays), Samui Airport (48 delays, 2 cancellations), and Krabi Intl Airport (44 delays).
The most affected airlines included Thai AirAsia (273 delays), Thai Lion Air (146 delays), Thai VietJet Air (109 delays), Thai Airways (102 delays, 2 cancellations), and Bangkok Airways (84 delays, 6 cancellations). Other popular carriers not among the worst hit but still impacted included Malaysia Airlines, Scoot, IndiGO, China Eastern, Vietnam Airlines, and AirAsia. The regions most affected by today’s flight disruptions are Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Samui, and Krabi, underscoring widespread operational strain across Thailand’s major airports.

• Updated today: Thailand recorded 1,114 delays and 7 cancellations across six airports in one of the busiest disruption days of the period.
• Bangkok airports dominated disruptions, with Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang alone accounting for 759 total delays.
• Low-cost carriers such as Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, and Thai VietJet Air faced the highest delay volumes.
• Regional leisure hubs including Phuket, Samui, and Krabi also experienced significant knock-on delays.

Airports Facing the Worst Cancellations And Delays Right Now

Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport (Bangkok International)

Suvarnabhumi Bangkok was the single most affected airport, recording 393 delays and 5 cancellations. Full-service and regional airlines alike were impacted, with Thai Airways, Thai VietJet Air, Thai AirAsia, and Bangkok Airways reporting substantial operational delays.

Don Mueang Airport

Don Mueang followed closely with 366 delays and zero cancellations. The airport saw heavy disruption concentrated among low-cost operators, particularly Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air, reflecting high-frequency domestic and short-haul regional operations.

Phuket International Airport

Phuket logged 170 delays, underscoring continued congestion at Thailand’s busiest leisure gateway. Bangkok Airways, Thai VietJet Air, Thai Lion Air, and Thai AirAsia accounted for the majority of delayed movements.

Chiang Mai International Airport

Advertisement

Chiang Mai recorded 93 delays, largely affecting domestic and regional Asia routes. Thai AirAsia, Thai VietJet Air, Thai Lion Air, and Thai Airways were the most affected carriers at the northern hub.

Samui Airport

Samui experienced 48 delays and 2 cancellations, with Bangkok Airways responsible for most disruptions. The airport’s limited runway capacity amplified schedule knock-on effects.

Krabi International Airport

Advertisement
Krabi reported 44 delays with no cancellations, mainly involving Thai VietJet Air, Thai Lion Air, and Thai AirAsia, highlighting continued strain at southern resort airports.

Airlines with the Highest Cancellation And Delay Rates

Thai AirAsia

Thai AirAsia was the most disrupted airline overall, with 273 delayed flights across Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Krabi, reflecting its dense domestic and regional network.

Thai Lion Air

Thai Lion Air recorded 146 delays, particularly concentrated at Don Mueang and Phuket, where high aircraft utilization intensified schedule vulnerability.

Thai VietJet Air

Thai VietJet Air faced 109 delays, with especially high delay ratios at Phuket, Krabi, and Chiang Mai, impacting both leisure and regional connections.

Thai Airways

Thai Airways, the national carrier logged 102 delays and 2 cancellations, mainly at Suvarnabhumi, where long-haul and regional rotations intersected with congestion.

Bangkok Airways

Bangkok Airways reported 84 delays and 6 cancellations, with Samui and Suvarnabhumi being the most affected airports due to operational concentration.

AirAsia (regional affiliates)

Beyond Thai AirAsia, other AirAsia-branded operations also saw repeated delays across Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Don Mueang, contributing to system-wide congestion.

Passenger Rights & Recovery: How to Handle Delays at Busiest Airports

• Monitor airline apps and airport departure boards frequently for real-time updates.
• Retain boarding passes and delay notifications for potential compensation or rebooking.
• Request meal vouchers or accommodation where applicable during extended delays.
• Reconfirm onward connections early, especially when transiting through Bangkok airports.
• Consider flexible rebooking options during peak disruption periods.

Financial Impact On Airlines

Operational disruptions often translate into higher short-term costs for airlines, including additional fuel burn, crew duty extensions, ground handling fees, and passenger care expenses. Revenue impacts may occur when repeated delays reduce aircraft utilization efficiency, while customer confidence can be affected if irregular operations persist. These pressures are commonly more pronounced for carriers operating high-frequency, short-haul networks.

The Breakdown: Flight Cancellations And Delays

Across Thailand, disruption levels were most visible in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Samui, and Krabi, with Thailand emerging as one of the most affected countries in the region today. Airlines most impacted included Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Thai VietJet Air, Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, and AirAsia affiliates, while international carriers such as Malaysia Airlines, Scoot, IndiGO, and China Eastern also experienced secondary delays.
With Bangkok airports acting as the primary pressure points and southern resort destinations absorbing knock-on effects, the disruption pattern highlights how congestion in Thailand can quickly cascade across domestic and regional Asia-Pacific air travel.
Image Source: AI
Source: Different airports and FlightAware

Advertisement
Tags: AirAsia flights cancelled today, bangkok suvarnabhumi airport cancellations, Phuket cancelled flights today, Thai Airways flights cancelled today, Thailand flight cancellations today

I want to receive travel news and trade event updates from Travel And Tour World. I have read Travel And Tour World's Privacy Notice .
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Sunday, January 18, 2026

source