The CEOs of Thai Airways and of Bangkok's main Suvarnabhumi airport have both resigned, reportedly over an inability to gain cooperation from other government agencies in their response to coronavirus.

Thai Airways CEO Sumeth Damrongchaitham quit first on Thursday and then was followed closely thereafter by the Bangkok airport CEO Sutheerawat Suwannawat.

Media in Thailand are reporting that the Thai Airways CEO quit over "lack of assistance from the Ministry of Transport in containing the virus."

Meanwhile the airport chief "was disheartened by refusal from other agencies" including immigration, health and the military, to provide cooperation in screening passengers. Indeed, reports are that face masks intended for workers screening passengers have been taken away from the airport and given to other government agencies.

However the airport CEO's boss, the head of Airports of Thailand, claimed the resignation was over "80 Thai undocumented workers returning from South Korea evad[ing] a checkpoint" at the Bangkok airport Saturday. (Almost all 80 have since turned themselves in.)

(HT: David H.)

tag