Bangkok's governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, declared all 50 districts of the capital a disaster zone on Saturday 26 September 2026, after close to 300 mm of rain fell in about 48 hours from Thursday afternoon. September's rainfall had already reached 487 mm by the 25th, nearly double the long-term average for the month. Roads in the east of the city and low-lying areas near canals were worst hit, and the Meteorological Department expected heavy rain to continue through Sunday 27 September.
For travellers the short version is this: both Bangkok airports are open and flights are operating, with some delays. The problem is getting to the airport, not the airport itself. The Tourism Authority of Thailand's notice of Friday evening asks passengers to allow at least three hours for international flights and two hours for domestic flights at Suvarnabhumi, and two to three hours of extra travel time for Don Mueang.
Airports and flights
- •Suvarnabhumi (BKK): open and operating. Avoid the Lat Krabang road, which has standing water; use Motorway 7 or the Burapha Withi Expressway instead. The Airport Rail Link is running.
- •Don Mueang (DMK): open and operating, with flooding reported on one taxiway and on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road outside. Airport taxi services were suspended on Friday because of flooded access routes; the A1 to A4 airport buses run with delays of up to about 45 minutes.
- •Delays, not closures: the Transport Ministry set up a flood operations centre on 26 September and reported accumulated delays but no build-up of stranded passengers at either airport.
Free date changes from the airlines
Several carriers have waived change fees for flights touching Bangkok during the flooding. Terms differ, so check your own airline's notice before you rebook.
- •Thai Airways: tickets issued on or before 26 September for travel from Suvarnabhumi between 26 and 29 September can be changed once, same route and fare class, with the change fee waived; the journey must be completed by Tuesday 29 September. Cancelled flights are refunded in full.
- •Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and Thai Vietjet: passengers with flights on 26 to 28 September can make one free change on the same route within seven days, or keep the ticket value as credit valid for 180 days.
- •Cathay Pacific has also published flexible ticket conditions for Bangkok. Other foreign airlines may follow; look for a "travel alert" or "flexible ticket" page on your carrier's site.
Getting around the city
- •BTS Skytrain and MRT (Blue, Purple, Yellow and Pink lines) are running and are the most reliable way across town while roads are flooded.
- •SRT Red Line: the Tourism Authority listed both Red Line branches as temporarily suspended for safety inspections on Friday evening. Check before relying on it for Don Mueang.
- •Long-distance trains: the Northern Line is cut between Nong Pho and Noen Makok, and services from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Den Chai are suspended from 26 September until further notice. Sections of the Eastern Line towards Aranyaprathet are also closed.
- •Roads: avoid flooded underpasses and known low spots. The city advised small cars to stay off seven flooded locations on 26 September. Expect slow taxis and ride-hailing waits.
What this means for your Digital Arrival Card
The flooding does not change the arrival card rules. You still need a TDAC filed before you land, and immigration at both airports is working. What can change is your flight number and arrival date, and the card is tied to both. If an airline moves you to a different flight or day, the card you filed no longer matches the airline manifest.
- •If you filed yourself on the official system and your flight changes, file a new card with the new flight details before you land.
- •If you filed through TDAC.info, email support@tdac.info with the new flight number and date as soon as you have them. Corrections and re-filing before departure are free.
- •If your flight is only delayed on the same day and keeps its number, nothing changes. The card stays valid.
Useful numbers
Tourism Authority of Thailand contact centre 1672 (24 hours, English spoken), Tourist Police 1155, State Railway of Thailand 1690. Bangkok's governor said on Saturday that once the rain stops, draining the floodwater is expected to take two to three days. We will update this page as the airports, the airlines and the Tourism Authority change their notices.