PHUKET AIRPORT was packed with stranded travellers today searching for a way out, after the closure by anti-government mobs of Bangkok's second airport, Don Mueang, left them with severely limited choices for reaching the capital.
Phuket airport officials report that 2664 stranded passengers are in the airport today, while yesterday a total of 5206 were unable to depart.
Nearly half of Phuket airport's domestic traffic was halted today as both Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports remain closed.
Of 53 scheduled domestic flights in and out of Phuket, 24 were cancelled. Only one international flight was cancelled, an AirAsia flight to Singapore.
Some tourists pinned their hopes on a single Thai Airways flight to U-Tapao airport in Rayong province, about 90 km southeast of Bangkok, but it quickly filled up.
A temporary bus ticket counter, set up by the airport for people to buy seats on air-conditioned coaches to Bangkok, was doing brisk business.
Other passengers were holding out hope that flights after 6pm today would take off, since airlines by this afternoon had not updated the status of their evening flights.
At 6pm, however, Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways and AirAsia all announced cancellations of tonight's flights.
Michael Marclay, a first-time visitor from France, was among those hoping to catch a flight. After staying in Phuket for two days he planned to go to Bangkok for more touring before returning home. His Thai Airways flight was scheduled to leave at 7am. Unless he caught a bus, he will spend another night in Phuket.
Maurice and Jutta Jedar, a French couple, arrived to Phuket unexpectedly yesterday when their charter LTU flight from Germany was diverted from Suvarnabhumi. They among the lucky few to get a seat on today's U-Tapao flight at 2.45pm.
Even with the difficulties, Mr Jedar, a long-term resident of Pattaya, said, "We are very happy with Thailand." However, he said that the airport takeovers were not good for Thailand, since it was normally seen as a tourist-friendly country.
Regardless, they were here to stay "forever", he said.
Tourist Peter Hildebrand, from Germany, had been in Phuket for 10 days and planned to go to Bangkok for two days before returning home. He was catching a bus to Bangkok, saying he didn't understand what the reasons for the airport closures were.
He said he would definitely return, however, since he loved Thailand a lot.
Bangkok businessman Jatuporn Supapol, an IT project manager with a major international bank, was on standby on the U-Tapao flight.
Khun Jatuporn had been on a return flight to Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok after holidaying in Japan, when the airplane was diverted to Hong Kong.
He spent one night in Hong Kong and was unable to book any flights to Bangkok. After scrambling to get on a flight to any destination in Thailand he managed to book one to Phuket.
He would take a bus if he couldn't get on the U-Tapao flight.
Khun Jatuporn said he felt sorry for the Japanese tourists who had arrived with him. "It's a bad image for Thailand," he said.
Update: Thai Airways has set up four new international flight routes with stops in Phuket, as follows: Chiang Mai-Phuket-Frankfurt, U-Tapao-Phuket-Singapore, Singapore-Phuket-U-Tapao, Penang-Phuket-Hong Kong-Incheon.
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Thousands of tourists cannot reach Phuket today as Suvarnabhumi airport's closure has forced inbound flights to cancel. Resorts offer 70 percent discounts for stranded passengers.
Phuket Airport Open but Tourists Trapped
Phuket airport officials report that 2664 stranded passengers are in the airport today, while yesterday a total of 5206 were unable to depart.
Nearly half of Phuket airport's domestic traffic was halted today as both Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports remain closed.
Of 53 scheduled domestic flights in and out of Phuket, 24 were cancelled. Only one international flight was cancelled, an AirAsia flight to Singapore.
Some tourists pinned their hopes on a single Thai Airways flight to U-Tapao airport in Rayong province, about 90 km southeast of Bangkok, but it quickly filled up.
A temporary bus ticket counter, set up by the airport for people to buy seats on air-conditioned coaches to Bangkok, was doing brisk business.
Other passengers were holding out hope that flights after 6pm today would take off, since airlines by this afternoon had not updated the status of their evening flights.
At 6pm, however, Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways and AirAsia all announced cancellations of tonight's flights.
Michael Marclay, a first-time visitor from France, was among those hoping to catch a flight. After staying in Phuket for two days he planned to go to Bangkok for more touring before returning home. His Thai Airways flight was scheduled to leave at 7am. Unless he caught a bus, he will spend another night in Phuket.
Maurice and Jutta Jedar, a French couple, arrived to Phuket unexpectedly yesterday when their charter LTU flight from Germany was diverted from Suvarnabhumi. They among the lucky few to get a seat on today's U-Tapao flight at 2.45pm.
Even with the difficulties, Mr Jedar, a long-term resident of Pattaya, said, "We are very happy with Thailand." However, he said that the airport takeovers were not good for Thailand, since it was normally seen as a tourist-friendly country.
Regardless, they were here to stay "forever", he said.
Tourist Peter Hildebrand, from Germany, had been in Phuket for 10 days and planned to go to Bangkok for two days before returning home. He was catching a bus to Bangkok, saying he didn't understand what the reasons for the airport closures were.
He said he would definitely return, however, since he loved Thailand a lot.
Bangkok businessman Jatuporn Supapol, an IT project manager with a major international bank, was on standby on the U-Tapao flight.
Khun Jatuporn had been on a return flight to Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok after holidaying in Japan, when the airplane was diverted to Hong Kong.
He spent one night in Hong Kong and was unable to book any flights to Bangkok. After scrambling to get on a flight to any destination in Thailand he managed to book one to Phuket.
He would take a bus if he couldn't get on the U-Tapao flight.
Khun Jatuporn said he felt sorry for the Japanese tourists who had arrived with him. "It's a bad image for Thailand," he said.
Update: Thai Airways has set up four new international flight routes with stops in Phuket, as follows: Chiang Mai-Phuket-Frankfurt, U-Tapao-Phuket-Singapore, Singapore-Phuket-U-Tapao, Penang-Phuket-Hong Kong-Incheon.
Phuket Resorts Facing Cancelled Bookings
Hopes for a good high season have been shattered as Phuket resorts face cancellations following strengthened travel advisories to Thailand.
Phuket Resorts Facing Cancelled Bookings
Phuket Airport Flights Cancelled
Latest Phuket's tourism industry is reeling from flight cancellations as anti-government protesters tighten their grip on both Bangkok airports.
Phuket Airport Flights Cancelled
Phuket Protesters Mobilized to Bangkok
Phuket PAD supporters are rushing to join the escalating political action in Bangkok as the capital's airport remains under siege.
Phuket Protesters Mobilized to Bangkok
Phuket Airport Open but Tourists Trapped
Thousands of tourists cannot reach Phuket today as Suvarnabhumi airport's closure has forced inbound flights to cancel. Resorts offer 70 percent discounts for stranded passengers.
Phuket Airport Open but Tourists Trapped
OUCH!!
That hurts!!
Thailand once again shoots itself in the foot.
Posted by Restless in Rawai on November 27, 2008 23:01