PHUKET INTERNATIONAL Airport's expansion ceremonies earlier this year seem all for naught after the closure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in Bangkok have sliced heavily into its business.
To say the airport has experienced some turbulence lately is an understatement.
In just over a year, Phuket airport has dealt with the One-Two-Go flight OG 269 crash that killed 90, an invasion by anti-government protesters that forced it to close for days, and, this week, a logistics nightmare as the country's two major airports remain locked down.
The airport's General Manager Wing Commander Wicha Nurnlop told Phuketwan that some 3000 passengers scheduled to pass through the airport today were unable to fly. In addition, many tonnes of cargo remain grounded, he said, though an exact figure was currently unavailable.
Passengers due to arrive to Phuket through Bangkok were finding alternative ways to get here, including flights from U-Tapao or buses.
Three airlines created special flights today to accommodate stranded passengers.
Bangkok Airways added a U-Tapao-Phuket-Samui flight, while Malaysia Airlines added an extra Kuala Lumpur-Phuket return flight.
Thai Airways added three flights, as follows: Narita-Phuket-Sydney-U-Tapao; Singapore-Phuket-U-Tapao-Narita; U-Tapao-Phuket-Frankfurt.
More flights are being rerouted through Phuket by other airlines attempting to get their passengers back home abroad.
A Finnish news website, Yle.fi, reports: "The Finnish airline Finnair is planning four more flights to the Thai resort Phuket to get passengers stuck in the capital Bangkok back home. The first of the new flights is expected to land at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport early Sunday morning. The others will be coming on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
"Hundreds of Finnair passengers have been stuck in Bangkok after anti-government demonstrators have prevented the city's international airport from operating. Now Finland is planning to transport the passengers overland to Phuket..."
In 2007, Phuket airport's traffic volume was 40,799 flights, a 32 percent increase over the previous year. More than 5.7 million passengers passed through the airport last year.
The airport this year completed an expansion and now has the capacity to handle 6.5 million.
In the airport's seven-year-plan, a new terminal with a capacity for 15 million passengers was proposed.
The Phuket airport blockade from August 29-31 caused 190 flights to cancel.
And the bad timing award goes to... One-Two-Go , which announced earlier this week it was would be open for business again on December 5.
The budget airline has been suspended for safety violations since July 21. An investigation into its crash of September 16, 2007, is apparently complete but has not yet been made public.
The message on One-Two-Go's website today is: "Answering to your strong demands for safe, reliable and affordable air travel, we are pleased to announce that One Two Go Airlines, with persistent efforts, has successfully passed an in-depth audit by the Department of Civil Aviation which concluded that One Two Go is in full compliance with all safety and operational requirements. We appreciate your patience and immense supports and are ready, with renewed dedication, to serve you by our heart with our most friendly services from December, 5, 2008."
Stranded Tourists on the Hunt for Tickets Out
The national air travel crisis saw thousands in Phuket waiting and watching as their flight plans rested on events in the capital.
Stranded Tourists on the Hunt for Tickets Out
Phuket Airport Flights Cancelled
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 Airport Open but Tourists Trapped
Photo Album 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
To say the airport has experienced some turbulence lately is an understatement.
In just over a year, Phuket airport has dealt with the One-Two-Go flight OG 269 crash that killed 90, an invasion by anti-government protesters that forced it to close for days, and, this week, a logistics nightmare as the country's two major airports remain locked down.
The airport's General Manager Wing Commander Wicha Nurnlop told Phuketwan that some 3000 passengers scheduled to pass through the airport today were unable to fly. In addition, many tonnes of cargo remain grounded, he said, though an exact figure was currently unavailable.
Have your travel plans changed with the airport closures? Tell us about it in the Comment box below
Passengers due to arrive to Phuket through Bangkok were finding alternative ways to get here, including flights from U-Tapao or buses.
Three airlines created special flights today to accommodate stranded passengers.
Bangkok Airways added a U-Tapao-Phuket-Samui flight, while Malaysia Airlines added an extra Kuala Lumpur-Phuket return flight.
Thai Airways added three flights, as follows: Narita-Phuket-Sydney-U-Tapao; Singapore-Phuket-U-Tapao-Narita; U-Tapao-Phuket-Frankfurt.
More flights are being rerouted through Phuket by other airlines attempting to get their passengers back home abroad.
A Finnish news website, Yle.fi, reports: "The Finnish airline Finnair is planning four more flights to the Thai resort Phuket to get passengers stuck in the capital Bangkok back home. The first of the new flights is expected to land at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport early Sunday morning. The others will be coming on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
"Hundreds of Finnair passengers have been stuck in Bangkok after anti-government demonstrators have prevented the city's international airport from operating. Now Finland is planning to transport the passengers overland to Phuket..."
In 2007, Phuket airport's traffic volume was 40,799 flights, a 32 percent increase over the previous year. More than 5.7 million passengers passed through the airport last year.
The airport this year completed an expansion and now has the capacity to handle 6.5 million.
In the airport's seven-year-plan, a new terminal with a capacity for 15 million passengers was proposed.
The Phuket airport blockade from August 29-31 caused 190 flights to cancel.
And the bad timing award goes to... One-Two-Go , which announced earlier this week it was would be open for business again on December 5.
The budget airline has been suspended for safety violations since July 21. An investigation into its crash of September 16, 2007, is apparently complete but has not yet been made public.
The message on One-Two-Go's website today is: "Answering to your strong demands for safe, reliable and affordable air travel, we are pleased to announce that One Two Go Airlines, with persistent efforts, has successfully passed an in-depth audit by the Department of Civil Aviation which concluded that One Two Go is in full compliance with all safety and operational requirements. We appreciate your patience and immense supports and are ready, with renewed dedication, to serve you by our heart with our most friendly services from December, 5, 2008."
Phuket Airport Situation: Day by Day
Stranded Tourists on the Hunt for Tickets Out
The national air travel crisis saw thousands in Phuket waiting and watching as their flight plans rested on events in the capital.
Stranded Tourists on the Hunt for Tickets Out
Phuket Airport Flights Cancelled
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 Airport Open but Tourists Trapped
Photo Album 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
farking ridiculous....but i gues if it extends holiday time on the beach might as well roll with the punches. Worse places to be stranded!
Posted by kc_phil on November 29, 2008 12:54