A TOTAL of 190 international and domestic flights were cancelled during the three-day siege of Phuket International Airport, figures show.
And on the day after the siege ended, a total of 14,119 passengers came and went through the airport.
The scale and impact of the siege and its aftermath has been revealed in figures released by Airports of Thailand at the request of Phuketwan.
In the midst of the crisis, airport General Manager Wicha Nurnlop said that in some ways, the siege was ''worse than the 2004 tsunami.''
Now we can see what he meant. Even allowing for cargo transports, the cancellation of 190 flights amounts to an army of inconvenienced people.
And the figures are just for the period of the crisis. They do not take into account the thousands of cancelled flights and resort bookings in the aftermath.
The cost to Phuket in financial terms was massive. The cost in terms of the island's damaged image is almost impossible to calculate.
Of the 190 cancelled flights attributed to the siege, 106 were international and 84 domestic.
After flights were halted on Friday afternoon, 30 flights had to be cancelled. Saturday brought 88 cancellations (47 international and 41 domestic). Another 60 cancellations (35 internatioonal and 25 domestic) came on Sunday.
Seven more cancelled flights on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday have been attributed to the siege.
Thirty-five flights came and went after the siege was lifted on Sunday.
On Monday, 102 international and domestic flights arrived and left as the exodus of stranded holidaymakers and the airlift of in-bound passengers continued.
While airlines turned on some extra flights, in some cases passengers were delayed for up to two more days, especially those trying to get back to Singapore, according to one newspaper report.
The number of flights fell to 75 on Tuesday and 78 on Wednesday.
Monday was also the biggest day for passenger arrivals and departures. A total of 14,119 people passed through the airport, 6864 international visitors, of whom 4590 were leaving, and 7255 domestic passengers, of whom 3996 were leaving.
On Sunday immediately after the lifting of the siege, 5541 people arrived and left, with 1431 of those international departures.
On the big day, the Monday, 2274 incoming domestic passengers were outnumbered considerably by the 4590 who wanted a seat on a plane heading out.
The scale of the Monday figure of 14,119 was demonstrated by comparison with Tuesday, when a total of 7513 people came and went, followed by 8050 on Tuesday.
Essential Reading:
Phuket Air Siege: Two Years For Recovery
Phuket occupancy rates are down from 55 percent to 30 percent and the recovery will take up to two years, a tourism industry leader says. The island and airlines continue to count the cost of the airport siege.
Phuket Air Siege: Two Years For Recovery
Phuket Resorts Report Cancellations, Uncertainty
With a state of emergency announced today in Bangkok, a survey of Phuket resorts indicates that the airport siege cost the tourism industry dearly. One thing is sure: Phuket is no longer the haven from political unrest it was last week.
Phuket Resorts Report Cancellations, Uncertainty
Phuket Flights Return: Island Counts Cost
Phuket is flying again. Perhaps not as high as it would like yet, but that will come in time. What was the cost of the airport blockade and what are the lessons for the island? Here's our analysis.
Phuket Flights Return: Island Counts Cost
Touchdown! Flights Return to Phuket Airport
The siege of Phuket ends with the first flight from Bangkok touching down at 3.50pm. International flights will resume as fast as all 11 airlines can manage. Tourists should check with airlines before setting off.
Touchdown! Flights Return to Phuket Airport
Phuket Air Crisis: Protestors to Consider Options
Talks break up early Sunday; Protestors to discuss an end to standoff; Flights may not resume before Monday; No time set yet for flights in or out of Phuket to resume; Stranded tourists running out of money.
Phuket Air Crisis: Protestors to Consider Options
Phuket Paralysed: No Sign of Flights As Deadlines Pass
Phuket Airport will not reopen; PAD wants Prime Minister to resign first; Police Chief joins crisis meeting; Tourist turn up for missing flights and ask: Why?
Phuket Paralysed: No Flights As Deadlines Pass
Phuket Siege Lifts For Lone Flights to Bangkok
With international flights bound for Phuket being diverted and the island's airport shut down, a special plea was made for PAD leaders to allow one flight to beat the blockade and carry stranded passengers to Bangkok.
Phuket Siege Lifts For Lone Flights to Bangkok
Phuket Airport Invasion: Night of Uncertainty
Why is Phuket's tourism industry now part of a political dispute? That was the question being asked as anti-government protestors continued to occupy the island's international airport, forcing a halt to all flights.
Phuket Airport Invasion: Night of Uncertainty
Phuket Siege Latest: International Flights Diverted
Flights in and out of Phuket are not likely to resume before Saturday morning. Phuket airport was tonight in the hands of PAD anti-government protestors after 30 international flights were turned away.
Phuket Siege Latest: International Flights Diverted
Siege of Phuket Airport Blow by Blow
PAD protestors besiege Phuket International Airport; Thai Airways suspends all flights nationally; Reports of protestors on tarmac; All flights halted; Governor in crisis talks with PAD leaders; Phuket police chief calls in reinforcements.
The Siege of Phuket Airport Blow by Blow
Look for
And on the day after the siege ended, a total of 14,119 passengers came and went through the airport.
The scale and impact of the siege and its aftermath has been revealed in figures released by Airports of Thailand at the request of Phuketwan.
In the midst of the crisis, airport General Manager Wicha Nurnlop said that in some ways, the siege was ''worse than the 2004 tsunami.''
Now we can see what he meant. Even allowing for cargo transports, the cancellation of 190 flights amounts to an army of inconvenienced people.
And the figures are just for the period of the crisis. They do not take into account the thousands of cancelled flights and resort bookings in the aftermath.
The cost to Phuket in financial terms was massive. The cost in terms of the island's damaged image is almost impossible to calculate.
Of the 190 cancelled flights attributed to the siege, 106 were international and 84 domestic.
After flights were halted on Friday afternoon, 30 flights had to be cancelled. Saturday brought 88 cancellations (47 international and 41 domestic). Another 60 cancellations (35 internatioonal and 25 domestic) came on Sunday.
Seven more cancelled flights on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday have been attributed to the siege.
Thirty-five flights came and went after the siege was lifted on Sunday.
On Monday, 102 international and domestic flights arrived and left as the exodus of stranded holidaymakers and the airlift of in-bound passengers continued.
While airlines turned on some extra flights, in some cases passengers were delayed for up to two more days, especially those trying to get back to Singapore, according to one newspaper report.
The number of flights fell to 75 on Tuesday and 78 on Wednesday.
Monday was also the biggest day for passenger arrivals and departures. A total of 14,119 people passed through the airport, 6864 international visitors, of whom 4590 were leaving, and 7255 domestic passengers, of whom 3996 were leaving.
On Sunday immediately after the lifting of the siege, 5541 people arrived and left, with 1431 of those international departures.
On the big day, the Monday, 2274 incoming domestic passengers were outnumbered considerably by the 4590 who wanted a seat on a plane heading out.
The scale of the Monday figure of 14,119 was demonstrated by comparison with Tuesday, when a total of 7513 people came and went, followed by 8050 on Tuesday.
Essential Reading:
Phuket Air Siege: Two Years For Recovery
Phuket occupancy rates are down from 55 percent to 30 percent and the recovery will take up to two years, a tourism industry leader says. The island and airlines continue to count the cost of the airport siege.
Phuket Air Siege: Two Years For Recovery
Phuket Resorts Report Cancellations, Uncertainty
With a state of emergency announced today in Bangkok, a survey of Phuket resorts indicates that the airport siege cost the tourism industry dearly. One thing is sure: Phuket is no longer the haven from political unrest it was last week.
Phuket Resorts Report Cancellations, Uncertainty
Phuket Flights Return: Island Counts Cost
Phuket is flying again. Perhaps not as high as it would like yet, but that will come in time. What was the cost of the airport blockade and what are the lessons for the island? Here's our analysis.
Phuket Flights Return: Island Counts Cost
Touchdown! Flights Return to Phuket Airport
The siege of Phuket ends with the first flight from Bangkok touching down at 3.50pm. International flights will resume as fast as all 11 airlines can manage. Tourists should check with airlines before setting off.
Touchdown! Flights Return to Phuket Airport
Phuket Air Crisis: Protestors to Consider Options
Talks break up early Sunday; Protestors to discuss an end to standoff; Flights may not resume before Monday; No time set yet for flights in or out of Phuket to resume; Stranded tourists running out of money.
Phuket Air Crisis: Protestors to Consider Options
Phuket Paralysed: No Sign of Flights As Deadlines Pass
Phuket Airport will not reopen; PAD wants Prime Minister to resign first; Police Chief joins crisis meeting; Tourist turn up for missing flights and ask: Why?
Phuket Paralysed: No Flights As Deadlines Pass
Phuket Siege Lifts For Lone Flights to Bangkok
With international flights bound for Phuket being diverted and the island's airport shut down, a special plea was made for PAD leaders to allow one flight to beat the blockade and carry stranded passengers to Bangkok.
Phuket Siege Lifts For Lone Flights to Bangkok
Phuket Airport Invasion: Night of Uncertainty
Why is Phuket's tourism industry now part of a political dispute? That was the question being asked as anti-government protestors continued to occupy the island's international airport, forcing a halt to all flights.
Phuket Airport Invasion: Night of Uncertainty
Phuket Siege Latest: International Flights Diverted
Flights in and out of Phuket are not likely to resume before Saturday morning. Phuket airport was tonight in the hands of PAD anti-government protestors after 30 international flights were turned away.
Phuket Siege Latest: International Flights Diverted
Siege of Phuket Airport Blow by Blow
PAD protestors besiege Phuket International Airport; Thai Airways suspends all flights nationally; Reports of protestors on tarmac; All flights halted; Governor in crisis talks with PAD leaders; Phuket police chief calls in reinforcements.
The Siege of Phuket Airport Blow by Blow
Look for
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every day, Monday to Friday, at Phuketwan. It's essential reading. To tell us your news, email bigislandmedia@gmail.com or telephone 081 6513489. 
Does anyone know if there where flights from phuket to sydney on either the 27/08/08, 28/08/08 or 29/08/08?
Please email me with the answer. Thanks.
Posted by michael on September 30, 2008 09:10