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KC Sim

Suvarnabhumi Airport Shuts Down

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Hi all,

 

it looks like Thailand's political dissidents have gone one step further than they did the last time when they shut down three airports in the southern provinces - Hatyai, Pattaya and Phuket. Now they have managed to shut down Suvarnabhumi Airport.

 

Can anyone confirm if any flights have been diverted to KUL or any flights to/from BKK cancelled or seriously delayed?

 

Here in SIN, we have a BA10 operating SYD-BKK-LHR. It landed in SIN at 0005hrs . . . no sign of its departure to LHR and wonder if it is going to sit it out in SIN till BKK reopens. Meanwhile, I am certain BA could transfer LHR bound passengers onto their two flights fm SIN and Qantas' flight too.

 

Tiger Airways has cancelled one flight TR102 already and a Jetstar Asia flight has been delayed till dawn.

 

Thanks.

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So far none to KUL... the only international flight that has been reported to be diverted is the BA10 you mentioned to SIN. (for good reason, i believe they'll be able to transfer all LHR-bound pax to the BA/QF SIN-LHR flights as opposed to KUL where they can do nothing but wait.)

 

BA9 operating in the other direction (LHR-BKK-SYD) has been cancelled for today.

 

AY93 from HEL canceled for today.

 

SQ632 (SIN-BKK-NRT) is still stuck at BKK.

 

All scheduled flights ex-BKK have been delayed indefinitely since about 9+/10pm. All flights into BKK that have not already departed since then would have either been cancelled or delayed indefinitely as well. This ensures that the amount of flights that are already en-route are kept to a minimal.

 

The airport has stopped all out-bound flights since about 10pm while still allowing flights to land until about 15 mins ago where the airport has shut down completely! Thai authorities are diverting flights already reaching Thailand to Chiang Mai and Phuket. (Ouch! I can't imagine having to sleep in the cold hard dirty floors of these airports!)

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Whoa, this is bad.

Looks like its gonna be a long stand-off between the protestors and the police. And the Army has mentioned it is being neutral, for the time-being.

 

Any possibility Don Muang reopen for commercial flights?

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Unlikely. Don Muang was hit by protesters earlier today (before BKK) because thats where the temporary govt office is. So I'd imagine it to be even worst than BKK...

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There are always opporunities in a crisis!! KUL could gain something!!

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Thanks for all your replies . . . the situation is getting really serious and I do not see a quick resolution this. Thailand's image worldwide is taking a severe beating but in the meantime, airlines are scrambling to cope with their new problem.

 

Others that have cancelled flights include Gulf Air, Cathay Pacific, SIA, Thai AirAsia, Tiger Airways, Jetstar Asia, Kenya Airways . . . and as the day wears on, I am certain a lot more will.

 

If the seige of the airport continues for more days, I wonder if the airport will run out of food.

 

There is report of some kind of bomb blast at Suvarnabhumi Airport a short while ago . . . and at least two people have been injured.

 

It was very sad to see that some protestors were opening shooting with guns - wearing yellow armbands (perhaps signifying that they are royalists too) . . . and one could see someone waving a portrait of the revered Thai King in the background!!! Perhaps only a royal response is the only way out now . . . but for how long?

 

KC

 

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I don't quite understand why the King has not intervened in order to save the country??

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From The Star Malaysia

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?f...&sec=nation

 

AirAsia, MAS cancel all flights to and from Bangkok

 

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines have cancelled all flights to and from Bangkok on Wednesday. This comes after anti-government protesters in Bangkok swarmed the airport complex Tuesday forcing the closure of the city's main international airport. An air traffic control official at the Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday told the media that the airport would remain shut Wednesday.

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One single flight was given permission to take off!

Thai protesters say airlines must ask for landing permission

Posted: 26 November 2008 1145 hrs

 

BANGKOK: Thai anti-government protesters said Wednesday that they completely controlled Bangkok's international airport and that airlines must seek their direct permission to use the facility.

 

"The PAD has completely taken control of Suvarnabhumi Airport so any airline that wants to take off or land must seek permission from us directly," said Chaiwat Sinswuwong, one of the leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy.

 

"We have allowed one flight for the Hajj (Muslim pilgrimage) to take off, but not others," he added.

 

- AFP/yt

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Freedom of expression includes demonstration and peaceful protest is a pillar of democracy. However, disrupting commercial and economy activity is not an option. With this direction, PAD will lose popular support pretty soon.

 

:drinks:

 

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Others that have cancelled flights include Gulf Air, Cathay Pacific, SIA, Thai AirAsia, Tiger Airways, Jetstar Asia, Kenya Airways . . . and as the day wears on, I am certain a lot more will.

 

KL0877/25nov (AMS-BKK-TPE) PH-BFD diverted to KUL, and roundtrip to/from TPE now cancelled :(

KL0878/26nov still planned as KUL-BKK-AMS, but may operate KUL-AMS if blockage still going on...

 

KL0877/26nov-KL0878/27nov now cancelled :(

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I'm monitoring on how airlines respond to this with more information regarding their flights.

 

I noticed since yesterday on the Airasia website, there is a news ticker displayed prominently informing flights that are canceled. Same with SingaporeAir.com

 

However, in Malaysia Airlines website, nothing is there.

 

Just goes to show how slow / unresponsive MH is.

Edited by Edwin P K

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Thai Protesters Tighten Grip On Bangkok Airport

 

November 26, 2008

Anti-government protesters tightened their grip over Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday, causing chaos in the terminal and triggering speculation of imminent intervention by the military.

 

Army chief Anupong Paochinda was to hold a news conference after meeting security officials and business leaders to discuss the protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), a spokesman said.

 

Anupong has insisted many times he will not launch a coup only two years after the military's removal of Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister, although he has publicly pressed Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to stand down.

 

After masked PAD members broke into the control tower at Bangkok's USD$4 billion Suvarnabhumi airport, the latest twist in their seizure of the site, a rival pro-government group urged its people to hit the streets, raising the prospect of clashes.

 

"What they have done are terrorist acts," Jatuporn Prompan, a ruling party politician and leader of the anti-PAD Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship, told a news conference.

 

A series of small bomb blasts wounded several PAD protesters in the airport vicinity on Wednesday, demonstration leaders said, as chaos ruled inside the terminal, with all flights canceled.

 

The stock market bucked the positive trend in the region, falling two percent to a five-year low as investors feared the airport siege would deepen the economic impact of a three-year political crisis that has paralyzed government.

 

The baht was trading at 35.29 to the dollar, after hitting a 21-month low of 35.36 earlier in the day.

 

Thailand's finance minister has said the protests could have a damaging effect on the economy, which depends on tourism as a key sector and is already vulnerable to global financial turmoil.

 

The government forecast this week that the economy would grow just 4.5 percent this year, its slowest rate in seven years.

 

Somchai, whom the PAD accuse of being a puppet of Thaksin, his brother-in-law, is due to return from an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru on Wednesday afternoon.

 

His flight has been rerouted, but his handlers are not revealing his destination.

 

"I will get off the plane wherever it lands," the Bangkok Post quoted him as saying from Peru.

 

Thousands of passengers slept overnight on benches and luggage carousels at Suvarnabhumi, many annoyed that airport staff fled when the PAD demonstrators, dressed in the movement's yellow shirts, invaded the terminal.

 

"We came here and we saw all these people in yellow. We thought they were football fans. Now we're just waiting," said a Dutchman who gave his name as Mark.

 

Thai Airways, the national carrier, said 16 inbound flights had been diverted to Bangkok's old airport Don Muang, 45 km (30 miles) from Suvarnabhumi, and another three flights to a Vietnam War-era air base 150 km southeast of Bangkok.

 

Most airlines halted service to the Thai capital, a regional hub with 125,000 passengers passing through Suvarnabhumi daily.

 

Singapore advised its citizens not to visit Thailand.

 

"I just want to get home for Thanksgiving, but it's not going to happen. We have no idea what's happening here," American Kevin Harris said after arriving for an early morning flight only to find people sleeping all around the terminal.

 

Police have gone out of their way not to escalate the tension by confronting the PAD, which began a "final push" on Monday to unseat the government, although gunfire broke out on the streets on Tuesday as armed PAD members took on government supporters.

 

At least 11 people were hurt, officials said, in violent scenes shown on Thai television that are likely to undermine public support for the PAD, which claims the backing of Bangkok's urban middle classes and elite.

 

Broadly speaking, Thaksin and the government have the support of rural voters and the urban poor.

 

(Reuters)

 

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If this had happened just weeks ago, i would have been stranded. Good thing I'm a Malaysian, worse case scenario, I could just bus or train it down to our tanah air.

 

Anyways, I agree, a bonanza for KUL and SIN, they could get some extra traffic from BKK, especially traffic out of Thailand as holiday makers and business folks find alternatives home.

 

It's a shame about what's happening in BKK, a shame because it's one of the best cities in SEA.

 

I have a feeling BKK would be closed for quite some time. This political crisis has been going on for many years, without a clear ending in sight, it seems to be escalating.

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Freedom of expression includes demonstration and peaceful protest is a pillar of democracy. However, disrupting commercial and economy activity is not an option. With this direction, PAD will lose popular support pretty soon.

 

:drinks:

 

Direct action and thuggish behaviour are hardly democratic IMO.

Edited by Keith T

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Travel Advice For Thailand After Latest Troubles

 

November 26, 2008

Thailand's army chief told the government on Wednesday to step down and call a snap election as a way out of a deepening political crisis, but the government and protesters rejected the call.

 

A number of countries have issued travel warnings, and international airlines have cancelled flights to and from Bangkok. Here are more details:

 

AUSTRALIA

 

Australia advised its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution because of the uncertain political situation.

 

CHINA

 

China's Foreign Ministry advised its nationals to put off trips to Thailand. The country is a popular leisure destination for newly affluent Chinese.

 

DENMARK

 

Denmark advised its nationals to follow the situation carefully, and that they should be prepared to change plans and for the eventuality that they may not be able to arrive or leave as planned.

 

FRANCE

 

France has issued a recommendation against traveling to Thailand until the airport reopens. "We recommend travelers to postpone all travel to Thailand until the reopening of Bangkok's international airport," Foreign Ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier told an online news briefing.

 

HONG KONG

 

Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways cancelled flights to Bangkok. It said its service to Bangkok and Mumbai would bypass Thailand and fly straight to the Indian city.

 

MALAYSIA

 

Malaysia Airlines cancelled flights to Bangkok, according to the Star newspaper. Malaysian budget carrier Air Asia also suspended flights to Bangkok.

 

PHILIPPINES

 

The Philippines issued an advisory that non-essential travel to Bangkok be postponed until further notice.

 

The country's main two carriers, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific, announced cancellation of flights from Manila to Bangkok.

 

SINGAPORE

 

Singapore advised its citizens not to visit Thailand.

 

Singapore Airlines said it will suspend all flights to and from Bangkok until further notice.

 

TAIWAN

 

Taiwan's two major international airlines cancelled a total of seven flights to or from Bangkok. China Airlines cancelled four flights, affecting 1,300 travelers, and Eva Air cancelled three, spokesmen for the airlines said.

 

THE NETHERLANDS

 

A spokeswoman for Air France-KLM in Amsterdam said KLM had canceled its flights to and from Bangkok on Wednesday.

 

A Bangkok-bound KLM flight from Amsterdam carrying 256 passengers on Tuesday had been diverted to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, but an earlier Amsterdam-bound flight with 267 passengers had taken off as scheduled.

 

VIETNAM

 

Vietnam Airlines had cancelled two flights on Wednesday from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to Bangkok for "security and safety reasons", the Hanoi-based airlines said. It said it would monitor the situation before deciding whether to resume services to Thailand on Thursday.

 

(Reuters)

 

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What is happening at the two airports is not dissimilar to anarchy. As neither the Thai police or Thai army is taking action to control the shut down could only mean PAD action has the consent of the Thai King.

 

:drinks:

 

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There is a Royal Thai Air Force flight RTAF202 arriving in SIN at 2004hrs - confirmed. Wonder why it is coming and who's onboard. It might just be the plane that brings out the Danish Crown Prince and his Australian wife . . . both of them were stuck in BKK by the airport closure.

 

KC Sim

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