Passengers traveling across Thailand and beyond are facing a fresh wave of disruption after multiple carriers, including Bangkok Airways and Thai VietJet Air, scrapped a cluster of key services linking Bangkok, the resort island of Ko Samui, Amsterdam, and Cambodia’s new Techo International Airport.

The latest cancellations, which follow a series of scrapped services reported over recent weeks, have left travelers stranded or forced into costly, complex rebooking arrangements at the height of the peak tourism period.

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Four Key Flights Pulled as Peak Travel Season Intensifies

The newest round of disruption centers on four frequently used routes that together form a crucial network for both leisure and business travelers: Bangkok to Ko Samui, Ko Samui to Bangkok, Bangkok to Amsterdam, and Bangkok to Techo International Airport serving the Cambodian capital region.

According to updates from airport departure boards and regional aviation trackers, these cancellations have occurred within a tight window, intensifying the impact on passengers already in transit or holding same-day connections.

Bangkok Airways, a dominant operator on the Bangkok–Ko Samui corridor, has withdrawn select ATR 72 services at short notice, echoing earlier disruptions at Samui Airport where flights to the Thai capital have been repeatedly pulled.

On regional international routes, services branded under Thai low cost operators, including Thai VietJet Air, have also faced cancellations and schedule reshuffles, affecting onward connectivity, particularly for long haul itineraries involving European destinations such as Amsterdam.

The shift has been especially jarring because many of the affected flights operate at high demand times in the late evening or early morning, when alternative options are limited.

As a result, travelers report facing overnight delays in Bangkok or Ko Samui, with some missing cruises, tours, or business meetings in Europe and Cambodia.

Airline staff have been working to rebook passengers on later departures or reroute them through other hubs in the region, but capacity is tight during the New Year and early January rush.

Bangkok Airways remains the primary lifeline to Ko Samui, operating an intensive shuttle between the island’s limited capacity airport and Bangkok.

When the carrier cancels even a handful of daily rotations, the shock is immediately felt across hotels, tour operators, and local businesses that depend on a steady influx of visitors.

Recent operational updates indicate that several Bangkok–Samui sectors, flown by ATR 72 turboprops, have been withdrawn on short notice, replicating a pattern seen in December, when at least two key evening flights from Samui to Bangkok were canceled within 24 hours.

Passengers at Samui Airport have described scenes of confusion as departure boards abruptly switched to “canceled” and airline desks became overwhelmed by queues.

Many travelers report receiving email or app notifications only shortly before departure time, leaving limited room to adjust plans.

Those with same day international connections out of Bangkok, including onward flights to Europe and Australia, were particularly hard hit, forced either to buy last minute seats on competing carriers or accept overnight layovers.

Local tourism stakeholders say the timing could not be worse. Ko Samui is in the midst of its high season, with occupancy levels at resorts and villas surging.

The island’s reliance on a single major airline for most scheduled traffic means that any operational difficulties at Bangkok Airways can rapidly cascade into broader tourism headaches.

Although the carrier has previously suspended or trimmed some domestic flights for reasons ranging from weather to air quality, the concentration of cancellations during a peak window is drawing heightened scrutiny.

Thai VietJet Air and Regional Partners Struggle With Network Strain

While full service and boutique carriers are grappling with capacity limits, low cost operator Thai VietJet Air is facing its own network pressures, partly linked to aircraft delivery delays and the broader complexity of scaling up after the pandemic.

Industry briefings in recent months have highlighted how VietJet’s Thai unit has repeatedly had to adjust schedules on key regional routes, including services connecting Bangkok with popular destinations in Japan and South Asia, as well as emerging routes into mainland Southeast Asia.

In the latest disruption wave, Thai VietJet’s adjustments have intersected with cancellations and cuts by other carriers, meaning that passengers who might otherwise have been rebooked on alternative budget flights are finding fewer seats available.

Capacity constraints have been particularly acute for travelers using Bangkok as a regional hub to connect on to Cambodia’s Techo International Airport and onward to long haul flights, including those to Europe and North Asia.

Travel agents in Bangkok say the pressure on Thai VietJet Air comes at a time when the airline is trying to balance ambitious expansion, including new routes and sustainability initiatives, with the realities of an aircraft shortfall.

Customers report being offered refunds or rebookings on later flights, but for those needing to make fixed onward departures in cities such as Amsterdam, London, or Tokyo, that has often not been enough to salvage itineraries.

Amsterdam and European Connections Disrupted for Long Haul Travelers

Among the most complicated knock on effects has been on itineraries connecting Southeast Asia with Europe, particularly those routed via Amsterdam.

While the specific canceled services in this latest episode originate in Thailand and Cambodia, many passengers on affected Bangkok and Ko Samui flights were due to connect in Bangkok to onward long haul services heading west.

When their feeder flights were withdrawn, knock on consequences rippled across entire itineraries.

Agents report that some travelers on route to Amsterdam found themselves stuck in Bangkok overnight awaiting space on later departures to European gateways.

Others were rerouted via alternative hubs such as Singapore, Doha, or Dubai, adding many hours to total travel times. In the most severe cases, passengers heading to time sensitive events or cruises out of Dutch ports were forced to abandon or substantially rebook their plans.

For Thailand, which counts European visitors as a key market, the optics of stranded long haul tourists are unwelcome.

Airlines and tourism authorities alike are keen to avoid headlines of “holiday chaos,” particularly after a period in which the country has spent heavily on campaigns to woo back international visitors.

Industry observers say that patchy short haul reliability, especially on the Bangkok–Ko Samui and Bangkok–Cambodia legs feeding into long haul networks, risks undermining that effort if disruptions continue.

Techo International Airport, which serves the Phnom Penh region, is fast becoming a strategic link in regional travel, connecting Thailand with Cambodia’s political and business center as well as tourist destinations in Siem Reap and along the coast.

Recent cancellations of multiple Bangkok–Techo services within a short period, including flights operated by Siam World Airlines and partner carriers, have sparked concerns over the stability of this emerging corridor.

Industry reports from late 2025 highlighted a spate of scrapped Bangkok–Cambodia flights, with several Airbus A320 services to Techo International pulled on consecutive days.

Those disruptions left passengers marooned in Bangkok or scrambling to secure seats on buses and cross border land services into Cambodia. The new wave of cancellations reinforces worries that the Thailand–Cambodia air bridge remains fragile just as both countries seek to court investment and tourism.

Travelers interviewed at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport describe last minute notifications, with some only learning of cancellations after reaching airport check in counters.

While airlines have, in many cases, provided hotel accommodation or meal vouchers, passengers say compensation and clear rebooking options have varied widely between carriers.

For business travelers who rely on same day return flights between Bangkok and Phnom Penh, the unpredictability is especially disruptive.

Airlines Cite Operational Challenges While Passengers Demand Clarity

Airlines involved in the latest set of cancellations point to a confluence of operational factors, ranging from aircraft availability and technical checks to crew duty time limits and congestion at key airports.

Regional carriers have also been navigating volatile demand patterns, with sudden surges in bookings during holidays and lulls at shoulder seasons making it difficult to forecast capacity accurately.

Bangkok Airways has in the past referenced weather, runway constraints, and visibility issues when suspending or trimming flights to smaller Thai airports.

Low cost operators similarly stress that maintaining safety and regulatory compliance sometimes requires last minute schedule adjustments, even at the expense of passenger convenience.

Yet for travelers who find themselves stranded without clear timelines for rebooking, such explanations offer little comfort.

Consumer advocates and travel industry bodies are increasingly calling for more transparent, standardized communication from airlines when cancellations are unavoidable.

This includes clearer digital notifications, proactive rebooking to partner airlines where possible, and more consistent application of compensation rules.

In a region where carriers operate under differing national regulations and compensation regimes, passengers often struggle to understand their rights or how to pursue remedies.

What Stranded Passengers Can Do Right Now

For travelers currently affected by the Bangkok, Ko Samui, Amsterdam, and Techo International disruptions, immediate steps can help mitigate the impact.

Industry experts advise passengers to first confirm their flight status directly with the operating airline through official apps or customer service lines rather than relying on third party booking platforms alone.

Screens at the airport may lag behind back end system updates during busy periods.

Once a cancellation is confirmed, passengers should document all communications with the airline, including emails, text messages, and any written notices provided at the airport.

This documentation can prove valuable later if seeking compensation, refunds, or insurance claims.

Travelers are also encouraged to inquire about rebooking not only on the same carrier but also on partner airlines, particularly where long haul connections or international obligations are involved.

Travel insurance, where purchased, may cover some of the costs of unexpected overnight stays, meals, and missed connections, subject to policy terms. Passengers are advised to keep receipts for hotels, transport, and incidentals accrued due to disruption.

For those who have yet to travel, monitoring flight status closely in the 24 to 48 hours before departure, and allowing longer connection times where possible, can reduce the risk of cascading trip failures.

FAQ

Q1. Which airlines are involved in the latest wave of cancellations affecting Bangkok and Ko Samui?
Bangkok Airways has been at the center of cancellations on the Bangkok–Ko Samui route, while Thai VietJet Air and other regional carriers have also adjusted or canceled select flights that feed into international connections and routes to Cambodia’s Techo International Airport.

Q2. What are the four key routes currently causing the most disruption?
The most critical disruptions revolve around flights linking Bangkok with Ko Samui, return services from Ko Samui back to Bangkok, connections from Bangkok feeding itineraries toward Amsterdam, and Bangkok services to Cambodia’s Techo International Airport.

Q3. Why are flights between Bangkok and Ko Samui particularly vulnerable?
Ko Samui relies heavily on a limited number of daily flights, many of them operated exclusively by Bangkok Airways using turboprop aircraft. Any reduction in capacity or last minute cancellation on this route quickly impacts hundreds of passengers because alternative options are limited and often fully booked in peak season.

Q4. How are long haul travelers to Europe, including Amsterdam, being affected?
Many passengers use Bangkok as a hub to connect to long haul flights to Europe. When short haul feeder flights from Ko Samui or Cambodia are canceled, travelers may miss their onward departures to cities such as Amsterdam, resulting in overnight delays, rerouting through other hubs, or in some cases the loss of nonrefundable segments.

Q5. What is happening with flights between Bangkok and Techo International Airport in Cambodia?
Recent cancellations of multiple Bangkok–Techo International services by carriers such as Siam World Airlines and partner operators have disrupted a growing corridor between Thailand and Cambodia’s capital region, leaving passengers seeking alternative flights, overland options, or later departures.

Q6. Are passengers entitled to compensation for these cancellations?
Compensation rights depend on the operating airline, the countries involved, and the reason for the cancellation. Some carriers provide hotel stays, meals, and rebooking at no extra charge, while cash compensation may be limited or governed by local aviation rules. Travelers should check the conditions of carriage and consult consumer protection agencies where applicable.

Q7. What should I do if my flight is canceled while I am already at the airport?
If your flight is canceled at short notice, go directly to your airline’s service desk, contact its call center, and use the official app if available. Ask about rebooking on the next available service, potential transfers to partner airlines, and entitlements such as hotel vouchers, meals, and ground transport.

Q8. How can I reduce the risk of being stranded by a short haul cancellation before a long haul flight?
Experts recommend building longer connection times into itineraries, especially when traveling to or from island airports such as Ko Samui or regional hubs like Phnom Penh. Booking through tickets on a single airline group, rather than separate tickets, can also improve your chances of automatic rebooking in case of disruption.

Q9. Does travel insurance help in situations like these?
Many comprehensive travel insurance policies cover additional accommodation, meals, and transportation costs caused by unexpected flight cancellations or lengthy delays, subject to policy conditions. Insurance may also reimburse missed connections on separately booked segments, but travelers must retain all receipts and evidence of airline disruption.

Q10. Are further cancellations expected on these routes in the coming weeks?
Airlines have not issued firm forecasts of additional cancellations, but with fleets stretched and demand still volatile, further short notice adjustments cannot be ruled out. Travelers planning to use affected routes in January and February should monitor flight status closely and remain in contact with their airlines or travel agents for the latest updates.