BANGKOK DOMESTIC AIRPORT OPENS FOR BUSINESS

By D.Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- The Don Muang domestic airport reopened
Thursday
as the capital's two major airports gradually resumed services which had been
affected by the eight-day siege by anti-government protesters.

The first flight took off for Ubon Ratchathani at 6am, with Thai Airways
International scheduling 14 flights Thursday while Bangkok Airways and Nok Air
also have several lined up.

On Wednesday, the Suvarnabhumi International Airport reopened for business,
but full operation are only expected in one to two weeks as the authorities have
to move back equipment that were brought to the Utapao Airport near Pattaya
during the airport closure.

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia, currently operating from Utapao, will
resume their flights from Suvarnabhumi Friday.

While airlines rush to resume operations and stranded passengers look for
the first available flight home, many people are still worried about a repeat of
the airport blockade as the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) had vowed to
return if any nominee of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra replaces
Somchai Wongsawat.

Somchai was disqualified by the Constitution Court which also dissolved
three of the governing coalition parties.

The airport crisis caused massive damage to the country's economy,
especially the lucrative tourism industry which was expected to attract 13.5
million tourists this year but is likely to receive just half of the figure in
2009.

Thai Airways had announced that it would sue PAD for Bt20 billion in
compensation while the logistics industry estimated that its losses may reach
Bt22 billion as over one million workers in the tourism and other industries
related to the aviation sector are expected to lose their jobs.

In Pattaya, at least two major tourist spots have cut their workers
salaries
paying wages for only 10 days and 20 days respectively while major shopping
complexes in the capital and the popular Suan Lum night bazar were almost void
of foreigners.

"There were only 20 customers in our safari on Sunday when we used to get
between 1,000 and 2,000 people," said a marketing executive.

Due to the massive losses, estimated at Bt140 billion overall, there are
calls for the kingdom to have a "multi-centre for aviation" to avoid similar
crisis in the future.

"Ironically, many airline executives and staff, including the national
carrier's labour union, shot themselves in the foot by providing support
financially and physically to the PAD.

As many Thai people are not so rational and Thai protesters tend to think
they will achieve the same results again if political struggle does not yield
their aims, the rest of the country must think about a permanent plan of crisis
management," the Nation daily said in an anaylsis. (RM1=Bt9.79)
-- BERNAMA