PHUKET: About 220 passengers to Brisbane who thought they were about to end their time trapped on Phuket had their relief flight cancelled early today.
Some of the Strategic Airlines passengers have been stranded on Phuket since Wednesday. Questions are now likely to be asked of the airline by Australian Government officials.
About 185 passengers were due to fly from Phuket to Brisbane at 6.35pm on Thursday on flight VC247. That flight was eventually cancelled late at night after passengers were told the flight had been delayed.
And early today the replacement flight was cancelled - after some passengers had spent almost 10 hours waiting at Phuket International Airport.
That's long enough for a flight to Australia.
The passengers were described as ''ropable'' early today.
Australian embassy officials and the Phuket honorary consul, Larry Cunningham, have become increasing concerned about the treatment of the passengers.
Most of the complaints have been about poor communication and the absence of any Strategic personnel through the delays and cancellations since Flight VC241 failed to take off from Phuket to Melbourne on Wednesday.
Telling the passengers precisely what was happening appears to be difficult for Strategic, which posts information on an online site but seldom answers telephones.
The information listed on the Strategic site appeared to indicate that problems are also occurring with flights to Bali as well as Phuket.
The following details were noted on the Strategic site last night at 9.30pm Phuket time - even though the information header said that what followed had been posted at 8.30pm Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Flight VC247 has since been cancelled - again. Early today, having been told at 12.20am that the delayed 2am flight was cancelled, passengers were being transferred to holding accommodation.
UPDATE 20:30PM AEST 18th June 2011
We regret to advise the following flights have been delayed. Below is an approximate departure time for each flight. These departure times are subject to change at any time, so please keep checking the website for regular updates.
VC247 - 17 June 2011 Phuket to Brisbane. We estimate that this flight will depart on 19 June 2011 at 00:05am (local time).
VC226 - 18 June 2011 Brisbane to Denpasar. We estimate that this flight will depart on 19 June 2011 at 13:10pm (local time).
VC227 - 18 June 2011 Denpasar to Brisbane. We estimate that this flight will depart on 19 June 2011 at 18:25pm (local time).
VC246 - 19 June 2011 Brisbane to Phuket. We estimate that this flight will depart on 20 June 2011 at 03:35am (local time).
VC241 - 19 June 2011 Phuket to Melbourne. We estimate that this flight will depart on 20 June 2011 at 10:25am (local time).
We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused.
Flight VC240 - 17 June 2011 Melbourne to Phuket has been cancelled. Passengers booked on this flight will be offered a full refund and the opportunity to rebook your flight free of charge within 12 months. Please email info@flystrategic.com and one of our team members will be in contact within five business days. Again we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this has caused.
Flight VC241 - 16 June 2011 Phuket to Melbourne has been cancelled. We are working with other airlines to try and get our passengers to their destinations as quickly as possible. Strategic Airlines will contact passengers via text message or by local contact. Again we apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.
Strategic Airlines are still working with our Engineers to resolve the technical issues we are currently experiencing.
Due to a minor technical fault, a decision was made to divert our Brisbane to Phuket service VC246 to Kuala Lumpur yesterday evening. As a result of the late arrival into Kuala Lumpur, all passengers and crew were accommodated in nearby hotels.
Strategic Airlines apologises sincerely for this inconvenience however we are committed to our Captain's discretion to exercise our Safety First principle, without compromise.
Our team are working swiftly to return this aircraft to service as soon as possible and to make alternative travel arrangements for our passengers.
Given the large volumes of calls to our reservations team, we will continue to provide updated information on our website.
Again our sincere apologies, we are endeavouring to return to our normal service as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued patience.
Stranded! Phuket Passengers to Australia Face More DelaySome of the Strategic Airlines passengers have been stranded on Phuket since Wednesday. Questions are now likely to be asked of the airline by Australian Government officials.
About 185 passengers were due to fly from Phuket to Brisbane at 6.35pm on Thursday on flight VC247. That flight was eventually cancelled late at night after passengers were told the flight had been delayed.
And early today the replacement flight was cancelled - after some passengers had spent almost 10 hours waiting at Phuket International Airport.
That's long enough for a flight to Australia.
The passengers were described as ''ropable'' early today.
Australian embassy officials and the Phuket honorary consul, Larry Cunningham, have become increasing concerned about the treatment of the passengers.
Most of the complaints have been about poor communication and the absence of any Strategic personnel through the delays and cancellations since Flight VC241 failed to take off from Phuket to Melbourne on Wednesday.
Telling the passengers precisely what was happening appears to be difficult for Strategic, which posts information on an online site but seldom answers telephones.
The information listed on the Strategic site appeared to indicate that problems are also occurring with flights to Bali as well as Phuket.
The following details were noted on the Strategic site last night at 9.30pm Phuket time - even though the information header said that what followed had been posted at 8.30pm Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Flight VC247 has since been cancelled - again. Early today, having been told at 12.20am that the delayed 2am flight was cancelled, passengers were being transferred to holding accommodation.
UPDATE 20:30PM AEST 18th June 2011
We regret to advise the following flights have been delayed. Below is an approximate departure time for each flight. These departure times are subject to change at any time, so please keep checking the website for regular updates.
VC247 - 17 June 2011 Phuket to Brisbane. We estimate that this flight will depart on 19 June 2011 at 00:05am (local time).
VC226 - 18 June 2011 Brisbane to Denpasar. We estimate that this flight will depart on 19 June 2011 at 13:10pm (local time).
VC227 - 18 June 2011 Denpasar to Brisbane. We estimate that this flight will depart on 19 June 2011 at 18:25pm (local time).
VC246 - 19 June 2011 Brisbane to Phuket. We estimate that this flight will depart on 20 June 2011 at 03:35am (local time).
VC241 - 19 June 2011 Phuket to Melbourne. We estimate that this flight will depart on 20 June 2011 at 10:25am (local time).
We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused.
Flight VC240 - 17 June 2011 Melbourne to Phuket has been cancelled. Passengers booked on this flight will be offered a full refund and the opportunity to rebook your flight free of charge within 12 months. Please email info@flystrategic.com and one of our team members will be in contact within five business days. Again we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this has caused.
Flight VC241 - 16 June 2011 Phuket to Melbourne has been cancelled. We are working with other airlines to try and get our passengers to their destinations as quickly as possible. Strategic Airlines will contact passengers via text message or by local contact. Again we apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.
Strategic Airlines are still working with our Engineers to resolve the technical issues we are currently experiencing.
Due to a minor technical fault, a decision was made to divert our Brisbane to Phuket service VC246 to Kuala Lumpur yesterday evening. As a result of the late arrival into Kuala Lumpur, all passengers and crew were accommodated in nearby hotels.
Strategic Airlines apologises sincerely for this inconvenience however we are committed to our Captain's discretion to exercise our Safety First principle, without compromise.
Our team are working swiftly to return this aircraft to service as soon as possible and to make alternative travel arrangements for our passengers.
Given the large volumes of calls to our reservations team, we will continue to provide updated information on our website.
Again our sincere apologies, we are endeavouring to return to our normal service as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued patience.
Breaking News UPDATE One passenger on a stranded flight to Australia has been mugged and 180 others are anxious after being stranded on Phuket without news of a replacement flight.
Stranded! Phuket Passengers to Australia Face More Delay
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what do u expect from a low cost carrier? you get what you pay for.
Posted by jojo on June 19, 2011 02:20