PHUKET: Some Chinese tourists are being dropped off at Phuket International Airport five or six hours before their flights, a meeting heard yesterday, adding to overcrowding.
The tourists were taken to the airport early because tour operators did not wish to pay for an extra night's accommodation, said an Air China representative.
He said Air China didn't have the problem because most of its passengers were not package tour travellers.
A security spokesperson for AoT expressed concern that Orient Thai Airlines sometimes made claims that aircraft needed repairs to keep aircraft at Phuket airport.
Pressure on parking space means most aircraft are obliged to arrive and depart within hours to maximise the airport's capacity.
''I have checked and aircraft are not repaired at Phuket, despite claims of breakdowns,'' the security spokesperson said.
''If your aircraft break down so frequently, then perhaps it's time safety concerns were raised with the international authorities.''
Most aircraft are forced to fly to Don Muang in Bangkok or Krabi to avoid occupying valuable parking spaces on Phuket for too long.
In August, 404 charter flights from China arrived on Phuket. Of these, 175 were Orient Thai Airlines flights, carrying 38,500 people.
Other Chinese charter airlines flights and numbers of passengers in August were as follows: Spring Airlines 12/1728; Hongkong Airlines 57/8208; Shanghai Airlines 70/10,570 China Southern Airlines 24/3624; Eastar Jet 22/3322; Skywing Asia Airlines 2/260; Nordwind Airlines 36/7920; UT Air 5/885; Ceablue Pacitic 1/144.
Total passengers numbered 75,161.
The meeting of airport authorities with 21 Chinese airline and tour representatives aimed to address issues in advance of Phuket's high season.
The tourists were taken to the airport early because tour operators did not wish to pay for an extra night's accommodation, said an Air China representative.
He said Air China didn't have the problem because most of its passengers were not package tour travellers.
A security spokesperson for AoT expressed concern that Orient Thai Airlines sometimes made claims that aircraft needed repairs to keep aircraft at Phuket airport.
Pressure on parking space means most aircraft are obliged to arrive and depart within hours to maximise the airport's capacity.
''I have checked and aircraft are not repaired at Phuket, despite claims of breakdowns,'' the security spokesperson said.
''If your aircraft break down so frequently, then perhaps it's time safety concerns were raised with the international authorities.''
Most aircraft are forced to fly to Don Muang in Bangkok or Krabi to avoid occupying valuable parking spaces on Phuket for too long.
In August, 404 charter flights from China arrived on Phuket. Of these, 175 were Orient Thai Airlines flights, carrying 38,500 people.
Other Chinese charter airlines flights and numbers of passengers in August were as follows: Spring Airlines 12/1728; Hongkong Airlines 57/8208; Shanghai Airlines 70/10,570 China Southern Airlines 24/3624; Eastar Jet 22/3322; Skywing Asia Airlines 2/260; Nordwind Airlines 36/7920; UT Air 5/885; Ceablue Pacitic 1/144.
Total passengers numbered 75,161.
The meeting of airport authorities with 21 Chinese airline and tour representatives aimed to address issues in advance of Phuket's high season.
At times the numbers of Chinese tourists milling around the security scanner checks at the entrances to the terminal delay scheduled airline passengers from entering. I nearly missed my flight on one occasion because it took me nearly 1 hour just to get through the rabble. They mill around with no order or manners.
Posted by Logic on October 30, 2013 12:11