ID :
32557
Thu, 11/27/2008 - 06:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/32557
The shortlink copeid
BANGKOK AIRPORT REMAINS CLOSED
By D. Arul Rajoo
BANGKOK, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- The Suvarnabhumi Airport Wednesday remained closed and dozens of flights were cancelled as anti-government protesters continued to block all roads leading to Thailand's main gateway.
The Airport of Thailand (AOT) authority had earlier said it wanted to
reopen
the airport at noon but this did not materialise as anti-government supporters
had taken over the airport.
The supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) had declared
their intention to close the airport until Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat
resigns.
He is due to return Wednesday from attending the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (Apec) summit in Peru, but his flight is expected to be diverted to
Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.
While several thousand PAD supporters remained at the passenger
terminals and outside, a number of protesters were also seen trying to enter the
aeronautical radio and air traffic control towers while yet another group was
making its way to a road leading to the tarmac.
Despite assurances from the Thai authorities that they would provide
security to the over 3,000 passengers stranded at the airport, a very minimal
police presence was seen.
However, airport authorities said an Iran Air flight carrying 416 Thai
Muslims going for the Haj would be allowed to take off at noon.
The airport was closed at 9 pm last night for outbound flights while some
inbound flights were diverted to other international airports in the country, as
well as the Utapao Airport in Chun Buri.
One of the diverted flights was that of Indian Airlines, which touched down
at Utapao but the passengers were stranded as there were no facilities there to
accommodate foreign passengers.
Among the flights cancelled Wednesday were Malaysia Airlines' four flights
to Kuala Lumpur, as well as Air Asia's seven flights to Kuala Lumpur, and
several others to northern Penang state and southern Johor Baharu in Malaysia.
MAS's Area Manager for Thailand, A. Vijayakumaran, said passengers with the
Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur ticket could use the same ticket to fly from Phuket.
He said the airline has also set up an emergency crisis centre which
passengers could contact to get the latest developments (tel: 6622630565-71 or
6621343184).
BANGKOK, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- The Suvarnabhumi Airport Wednesday remained closed and dozens of flights were cancelled as anti-government protesters continued to block all roads leading to Thailand's main gateway.
The Airport of Thailand (AOT) authority had earlier said it wanted to
reopen
the airport at noon but this did not materialise as anti-government supporters
had taken over the airport.
The supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) had declared
their intention to close the airport until Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat
resigns.
He is due to return Wednesday from attending the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (Apec) summit in Peru, but his flight is expected to be diverted to
Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.
While several thousand PAD supporters remained at the passenger
terminals and outside, a number of protesters were also seen trying to enter the
aeronautical radio and air traffic control towers while yet another group was
making its way to a road leading to the tarmac.
Despite assurances from the Thai authorities that they would provide
security to the over 3,000 passengers stranded at the airport, a very minimal
police presence was seen.
However, airport authorities said an Iran Air flight carrying 416 Thai
Muslims going for the Haj would be allowed to take off at noon.
The airport was closed at 9 pm last night for outbound flights while some
inbound flights were diverted to other international airports in the country, as
well as the Utapao Airport in Chun Buri.
One of the diverted flights was that of Indian Airlines, which touched down
at Utapao but the passengers were stranded as there were no facilities there to
accommodate foreign passengers.
Among the flights cancelled Wednesday were Malaysia Airlines' four flights
to Kuala Lumpur, as well as Air Asia's seven flights to Kuala Lumpur, and
several others to northern Penang state and southern Johor Baharu in Malaysia.
MAS's Area Manager for Thailand, A. Vijayakumaran, said passengers with the
Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur ticket could use the same ticket to fly from Phuket.
He said the airline has also set up an emergency crisis centre which
passengers could contact to get the latest developments (tel: 6622630565-71 or
6621343184).
