Suvarnabhumi Airport Shuts Down

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

MH's slightly late announcement from their website. MH is offering a way to flee Thailand through Phuket. Way to go MH!

http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/uploads/en...ncement-bkk.pdf

 

MEDIA STATEMENT

26 November 2008

CC.MR.PR113 .08

 

To: News Editors

 

MALAYSIA AIRLINES KLIA/BANGKOK FLIGHTS

 

Malaysia Airlines has cancelled its four flights scheduled for KLIA-Bangkok and return for tomorrow, 27 November 2008, in view of the continued closure of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in the Thai capital.

 

Malaysia Airlines' Director of Operations, Dato' Tajuden Abu Bakar said, "Earlier, we cancelled our four daily flights on this route for today and we are taking similar action for our flights tomorrow as the situation is expected to remain unchanged. However we are continuously monitoring the developments at Suvarnabhumi International Airport and will resume our services between KLIA and Bangkok once the airport is open for flight operations".

 

"Meanwhile, our twice daily flights between KLIA and Phuket will continue as usual and we are considering to upgrade one of the daily service on this route to a widebody flight. This is to accommodate passengers of our Bangkok-KLIA flights who may arrive on their own at Phuket to fly back to KLIA. We will accept these passengers on our Phuket-KLIA flights on seat available basis, at no extra cost".

 

"While we are contacting affected passengers directly and through their travel agents to update them of their flight status, we also encourage customers in Malaysia to keep in touch with our toll-free 24-hour Call Centre at 1 300 88 3000 for further updates. Likewise we urge our passengers in Bangkok to contact our reservations office there at +662-2630572 or + 662-1343184 between 0830 hours and 2100 hours for the latest information on our flights schedule. Passengers can also contact our Phuket office at +667 213749, +667 6216675 and +667 6234467 from 0830 hours to 2100 hours for similar updates," he added.

 

Issued by:

Media Relations, Communications Division

Malaysia Airlines, Subang

[Seth K 3]

So they have to make their own way to Phuket? How is that any better?

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

The riot has been going on for more than 24 hours now. Based on what I was told, the PAD protesters did not interfere with the intercity bus and rail networks (?). So, if some travellers had a prophecy that maybe they could get out of Thailand from HKT, they may have reached the island by now. I think Chiang Mai (CNX) is also being flocked by foreign tourists wanting to flee the country. Now that they have knew it, some desperate travellers may just charter a car to bring them to either HKT or CNX by all means. Desperate time requires desperate measure. Thanksgiving man!

[Fitri Shukri 0]

Bangkok to Phuket by car. Thats a 12 hour drive on excellent road/highway and some nice scenery on the way. But to desperate travellers wanting to just get out of Thailand, that hardly matters.

[Pieter C. 5]

Any possibilities of taking ferries from TH to LGK/PEN (or flights for that matter) ?

[Nik H. 3]

So they have to make their own way to Phuket? How is that any better?

 

Well, its either you stay in BKK waiting for the airport to open and moan and groan and spend on hotels and food or act smart and take a land journey to HKT and fly for home.

 

Or the passengers have a choice of flying out of clean uncrowded peaceful white elephant KLIA in a wannabe 5star airline called MAS.

 

Mascharters have mounted a B737 flight to Utapao to pick up stranded BA and QF Cockpit crew and sent them to SIN so they can operate flights out of there. Crew who are supposed to operate the SIN/JKT sector and onwards to OZ or LHR are unable to do so until they arrive in SIN/JKT. And there are a number of aircraft stranded in SIN and JKT.

 

 

Tonight two B737 charter flights are departing to HKT. Tomorrow another A330 Charter flight will be taking off for HKT. Guess its gonna be a busy week for us.

 

We are also preparing to provide services to BKK once the airport opens to clear the backlog. Prices will be above normal rate as 'cheap no good and good no cheap'.

 

 

Small money no doubt but any amount is good in these bad times......

Edited November 27, 2008 by Nik H.

[Fitri Shukri 0]

Well, its either you stay in BKK waiting for the airport to open and moan and groan and spend on hotels and food or act smart and take a land journey to HKT and fly for home.

 

Or the passengers have a choice of flying out of clean uncrowded peaceful white elephant KLIA in a wannabe 5star airline called MAS.

 

Mascharters have mounted a B737 flight to Utapao to pick up stranded BA and QF Cockpit crew and sent them to SIN so they can operate flights out of there. Crew who are supposed to operate the SIN/JKT sector and onwards to OZ or LHR are unable to do so until they arrive in SIN/JKT. And there are a number of aircraft stranded in SIN and JKT.

 

 

Tonight two B737 charter flights are departing to HKT. Tomorrow another A330 Charter flight will be taking off for HKT. Guess its gonna be a busy week for us.

 

We are also preparing to provide services to BKK once the airport opens to clear the backlog. Prices will be above normal rate as 'cheap no good and good no cheap'.

 

 

Small money no doubt but any amount is good in these bad times......

 

Is Utapao a military air base? any chance of it also being stormed by demonstrators?

 

Hmm, there is always opportunity in crisis...

[Pieter C. 5]

Thailand Offers Navy Air Base As Substitute Airport

 

November 27, 2008

Thailand is offering its naval air base on the eastern seaboard as an alternative for airlines after its two Bangkok airports were closed by anti-government protests, a senior aviation official said on Thursday.

 

Aviation Department chief Chaisak Angkasuwan said he was ready to let airlines use U-Tapao, a small airport already used for some short domestic routes and international charter flights, 140 km (90 mile) southeast of Bangkok.

 

"If any airline wishes to land or take off from U-Tapao, send us a request and we will immediately grant it," he said.

 

"We are doing this to help passengers who wish to go home," he added.

 

A blockade by anti-government protesters at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, a major Asian air hub, entered its third day on Thursday, causing the cancellation of all flights and stranding thousands of tourists in the Thai capital.

 

Members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) also laid siege to the old Don Muang airport, shutting the domestic hub and effectively severing air links to the city of 8 million people.

 

U-Tapao, a front-line base for the US Air Force during the Vietnam War, has one runway.

 

National carrier Thai Airways, which operates 140 flights a day to and from Suvarnabhumi, said on Thursday it was considering using U-Tapao.

 

(Reuters)

 

[CV Thian 0]

MAS to fly to Utapao to bring back stranded passengers

 

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will on Friday operate one flight from Kuala Lumpur to Utapao, near Pattaya to bring back hundreds of its stranded passengers in Bangkok.

 

MAS’ area manager for Thailand, A. Vijayakumaran, said two more flights would be operated on Saturday, using the Airbus aircraft with passenger capacity of 290 people, compared to the normal capacity of 144.

 

Thailand’s Department of Civil Aviation has agreed to allow airlines to use the airport, which is located about 140km from Bangkok, following the closure of the Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports in the capital since Monday by antigovernment protesters.

 

Vijayakumaran said the MH782 flight on Friday would leave Kuala Lumpur at 3.15pm and arrive here at 16.20pm (Thai time), before the return MH783 departs at 5.10pm and lands in KLIA at 8.15pm.

 

On Saturday, MAS will operate two flights, starting with MH784 at 9.10am and arriving here at 10.15am (Thai time) and departing (MH785) Utapao at 11.10am.

 

The second flight (MH788) will depart KLIA at 12.25pm and arrive at 1.30pm while the return flight (MH789) is scheduled to leave at 2.15pm (Thai time) and arrive at KLIA at 5.25pm.

 

Vijayakumaran said passengers with tickets would have to make their own arrangements to travel to Utapao while those without tickets could purchase them from the airline.

 

He said the passengers could call MAS office at Tel: 662263056571 or Tel: 6621343184 to get more information. - Bernama

 

[Keith T 2]

I read that El Al is planning to use UTP for the time being.

[Pieter C. 5]

Main Bangkok Airport Shut Until At Least Saturday

 

November 28, 2008

Bangkok's main Suvarnabhumi Airport will remain closed until at least 6 pm (1100 GMT) on Saturday because of a siege by anti-government protesters, Thai Airways said on Thursday.

 

The airline, passing on an announcement from Airports of Thailand, said the capital's old Don Muang airport would be closed until 6 pm on Friday.

 

The statement did not say why these times had been chosen.

 

The government declared a state of emergency at the two sites on Thursday, giving the army and police special powers to clear the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters, who overran the USD$4 billion Suvarnabhumi site on Tuesday.

 

However, when a state of emergency was declared at another PAD protest site in September, the army failed to heed the order and did nothing.

 

Suvarnabhumi is one of Asia's biggest airports, processing 125,000 people a day, 70 percent of them tourists. The airport closure has left thousands of foreigners stranded and will make a huge dent in Thailand's lucrative tourist industry.

 

(Reuters)

 

[Ashmil Abd Ghani 0]

Tonight two B737 charter flights are departing to HKT. Tomorrow another A330 Charter flight will be taking off for HKT. Guess its gonna be a busy week for us.

 

We are also preparing to provide services to BKK once the airport opens to clear the backlog. Prices will be above normal rate as 'cheap no good and good no cheap'.

 

Just small remind to you Capt if forget,,dont ever forget to carry your G10 along ea.. :)

 

We (I most probably) here love to see pictures on what had happen..

Edited November 28, 2008 by Ashmil Abd Ghani

[Pieter C. 5]

Philippines Cancels Bangkok Flights Due To Unrest

 

November 28, 2008

The Philippines second largest carrier Cebu Pacific Air cancelled all its flights to Bangkok until next Wednesday due to political unrest in the Thai capital, a company statement said on Friday.

 

Cebu Pacific flies an Airbus A320 daily to Bangkok from Manila and three times a week to Bangkok from Clark Field in the northern Philippines, carrying an average of 2,750 passengers per week at 80 percent load factor.

 

Rival Philippine Airlines said it has also cancelled all its flights to Bangkok on Friday, but it would be reviewing its decision each day.

 

PAL flies to Bangkok twice a day from Manila.

 

"We'll make daily announcements on the status of our flights to Bangkok," Rolando Estabillo, PAL spokesman said.

 

An estimated 800 Filipinos have been stranded in the Thai capital since Wednesday after anti-government protesters occupied Bangkok's international airport to demand the resignation of Thailand's prime minister.

 

(Reuters)

 

 

Thailand Tourism Hit By Political Crisis

 

November 28, 2008

Thailand's tourist sector has taken another beating from the siege of Bangkok's airports by anti-government protesters, with losses mounting at tour operators and airlines as both locals and tourists cancel trips.

 

The closure of the USD$4 billion Suvarnabhumi Airport since late on Tuesday has forced the cancellation of hundreds of fights and stranded thousands of tourists. The domestic Don Muang airport was also closed on Thursday.

 

"I'm very upset. There are no bookings. There are no tourists. The whole industry has been paralysed because a group of people shut the doorway into Thailand," said Maiyarat Pirayakoset, president of the Association of Domestic Travel.

 

"Who's going to be in the mood to travel at a time like this? The airport needs to be reopened within 24 hours. Closing the airport is closing the country," she said.

 

The protesters have been waging a street campaign for six months against an administration that it sees as the puppet of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was removed by the military in September 2006 and now lives in exile.

 

Some airports in the south were briefly closed by protests in August.

 

"Last time it was like shooting yourself in the kneecap, but this time it's in the head," Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said.

 

The tourist industry could lose THB76 billion - THB120 billion baht (USD$2.2 billion - USD$3.4 billion) in revenue if the turmoil continued for another month, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce said.

 

Thailand is banking on THB600 billion in revenue from 15.5 million tourist arrivals this year, after 14.5 million last year. Next year it expects 16 million tourists to visit the "Land of Smiles", home to some of Asia's best beaches.

 

"Tourist targets? They're history now," Tourism Minister Weerasak said. "We're not talking about the loss figures as our country's image has been completely destroyed."

 

However, private analysts are scaling down arrival forecasts.

 

Asia Plus Securities said arrivals could be below 14.5 million this year and it expected the number to fall 10 percent to about 13 million in 2009.

 

"The political woes could damage the country's image and the global economic slowdown may put pressure on the number of tourist arrivals in Thailand next year," the broker said.

 

In the first 10 months of the year, the number of foreign arrivals at Suvarnabhumi airport rose 2.4 percent from a year earlier to 8.52 million.

 

But the number fell 15 percent in July-October as travellers were scared off by emergency rule in September and political violence in October, when two people died and over 400 were injured.

 

The international airport handles over 100,000 visitors a day, 70 percent of whom are tourists, Weerasak said.

 

Thai Airways said it expected losses of more than THB500 million a day from the airport closures.

 

The tourist sector directly employs 1.8 million people and brings in the equivalent of 6 percent of gross domestic product, making it a major engine of economic growth, already suffering from slowing exports caused by the global economic slump.

 

The unrest could not have come at a worse time for Thai tourism, since November is the start of the peak season. "Business is awful," said tour operator Chantana Sukchaona of Rose Travel and Service.

 

"Just two days before we still had full bookings. Everything was all set. People had planned their vacations and booked their time off work," she said. "Now there's nothing they can do but cancel their trips."

 

Thais wanting to go abroad are also having second thoughts.

 

"Usually this time of the year, we have lots of trips to Japan, Australia, New Zealand," Chantana said. "Everything has stopped."

 

Maiyarat of the Association of Domestic Travel said something had to be done quickly.

 

"Everything is paralysed and nobody's doing anything about it. Don't ask how much money we're losing as it's beyond a disaster."

 

(Reuters)

 

[Cornelis Boersma 0]

KLM yesterday send PH-BFR (empty leg) to a army base around BKK I heard? A technician of KLM told me he was doing last checks on BFR before her departure to somewhere in Thailand. They were busy buying landingrights at the Thai government.

Regular flight of PH-BFF was cancelled he said, confirmation Uncle Pieter?

Edited November 28, 2008 by Cornelis Boersma

[MIR 2]

Thousands of anti-government demonstrators rally outside Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport

 

Now Everyone Can't Fly...

 

Anti-government demonstrators prepare hot water for supporters

 

A boy plays badminton in the departure hall

 

An anti-government demonstrator takes rest behind a check-in counter

 

Stranded Thai Hajj pilgrims pray in front of check-in counters

 

Demonstrators take rest in the departures hall

 

Stranded..

 

 

[S V Choong 4]

Hope the airport will be reopened again by 24 Dec 2008. Otherwise I will have to go somewhere else instead!

[KK Lee 5]

Hope the airport will be reopened again by 24 Dec 2008. Otherwise I will have to go somewhere else instead!

 

If BKK is not back to operation by then, the Thai tourism industry will be at its knees with lots of offer and bargain.

 

Edited November 29, 2008 by KK Lee

[Ryan Soh 3]

Whilst I am not a supportter of the previous PM Samak, and neither am I of the incumbent Somchai - this action could not have come at a worse time. Just when the global economy is teethering on collapse, they go ahead and do this. Way to go, PAD! Go ahead and create a s#1t pit for the next PM to solve!

 

Sigh... I might not understand their desperation to get the present PM out but Somchai didn't even get a chance to warm his seat and prove himself before attempts to oust him were mounted. Like I said I am not his supporter, but sometimes it is a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea and these are desperate times. Every country needs whatever available financial resources they can get and Thailand's burgeoning tourism industry was the bright light as always in a looming financial crisis.

 

They might as well have just cut off their last lifeline. Sad that these people don't really look at the big picture.

 

On a related note, I was once caught in the midst of a demonstration in Bandung and the driver of the van I was in told me to duck beneath the seat and not to be seen visible until we arrived at the airport. Now that was an adventure! he later explained that I was Chinese and he didn't want to risk me getting dragged out of the van and beaten!

[Naim 6]

Hope the airport will be reopened again by 24 Dec 2008. Otherwise I will have to go somewhere else instead!

 

And I'm due for another Chiangmai outing Dec 10-14.

 

[Ashmil Abd Ghani 0]

MAS response on this issue on their web site..

 

 

I personally dont this issue will be resolve within this 1 or 2 days..

 

Click here for detail..

[zeqa 1]

I wonder how many international airlines planes stranded at BKK?

 

 

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

I was at HKT on 26 Nov 08. Everything was normal.

[Moses Hiew 0]

My flight is on the 2nd December TG416 KLIA to Bangkok, under promotion fare, if the airport still close can i claim for refund?

[Y. J. Foo 0]

My flight is on the 2nd December TG416 KLIA to Bangkok, under promotion fare, if the airport still close can i claim for refund?

 

I think you should be able to refund or have your itinerary revised. Call them to see what you can do.

[Pieter C. 5]

Hope the airport will be reopened again by 24 Dec 2008. Otherwise I will have to go somewhere else instead!

 

Bangkok Airport Protesters Prepare For Long Stay

 

November 29, 2008

Anti-government protesters in Bangkok blockaded one of Asia's busiest airports for a fourth day on Saturday, with riot police ruling out an immediate assault to end the stand-off.

 

The protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) are seeking to oust Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat in the latest escalation in a long-running political crisis.

 

A day after their police chief was sacked for mishandling the protests, commanders on the ground said they would not yet try to evict by force the thousands of protesters at the city's Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports.

 

"Tonight, we are staying here," Police Colonel Sutin Meekajit said in the hotel car park at the USD$4 billion Suvarnabhumi airport, gateway for nearly 15 million tourists last year.

 

In a televised address, Prime Minister Somchai said the PAD members barricaded at the airports were doing massive damage to the economy, but he would avoid violence to end the protests.

 

"Don't worry. Officials will use gentle measures to deal with them," Somchai said, inviting rights groups and journalists to monitor the imposition of emergency rule at the two airports.

 

Somchai took a tougher line with his police chief, demoting General Patcharawat Wongsuwan to an inactive post on Friday.

 

While dozens of riot police with truncheons and shields kept watch on protesters at Suvarnabhumi, police at Don Muang airport ordered demonstrators there to leave immediately.

 

But they softened the edict by saying they hoped the situation would return to normal within three days.

 

The PAD refuses to end the airport sit-ins, which have forced hundreds of flights to be canceled, stranded thousands of foreign tourists and grounded millions of dollars of air cargo.

 

"We will not enter in any talks with the police. We will fight until the end," PAD spokesman Parnthep Pourpongpan said.

 

The PAD say they are ready for a prolonged siege, their "security guards" armed with clubs, sticks and golf clubs, and dug in behind a series of barricades of fire trucks, razor wire, car tires and luggage trolleys.

 

Thailand's three-year-old political crisis has deepened dramatically since the unelected PAD began a "final battle" on Monday to unseat Somchai, whom they accuse of being a pawn of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, his brother-in-law.

 

Pressure is building on the army to oust the prime minister, as they did Thaksin in 2006, after Somchai rejected military calls to quit this week.

 

But army chief Anupong Paochinda has said he would not take over, arguing the military cannot heal fundamental political rifts between the Bangkok elite and middle classes who despise Thaksin, and the poor rural and urban majority who love him.

 

Exporters were scrambling to get perishable goods and key components to customers around the world.

 

The question of compensation may arise later, but for now, they are focused on shipping goods, said Kasem Jariyawong, president of the Thai Air Freight Forwarders Association.

 

"We haven't had time to think about suing anybody, being occupied with how to cope with the immediate problem. What we and the shippers don't know is how long the siege will drag on."

 

A prolonged closure of Suvarnabhumi, which can handle 3 million tonnes of cargo a year, would do serious damage to an export-driven economy already struggling to cope with a global slowdown, experts say.

 

Repairing Thailand's tarnished image as a safe place to do business and travel may also take time.

 

The government began shuttling thousands of stranded tourists by bus to U-Tapao, a Vietnam War-era naval air base 150 km (90 miles) east of Bangkok, as an alternative landing site for airlines, but travelers reported delays and confusion.

 

(Reuters)

 

Stranded Tourists Strain Old Thai Air Base

 

November 29, 2008

With one luggage scanner and a tiny check-in area, a Vietnam War-era naval air base in Thailand struggled on Friday to cope with thousands of tourists left stranded by a political crisis.

 

The government began shuttling travelers by bus to U-Tapao, 150 km (90 miles) east of Bangkok, as an alternative landing site for airlines after protesters forced the closure of the capital's two main airports this week.

 

Nearly 60 flights had left by Friday afternoon, while inbound flights were expected to bring tourists for the peak holiday season, pushing the air base to its limits.

 

"Don't forget we're not Suvarnabhumi or Don Muang airports. The convenience and speed of services should be not be the same," Rear Admiral Surapong Ayasanond said at the base, which normally handles 14 flights a day.

 

People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters laid siege to Suvarnabhumi, Thailand's main hub for nearly 15 million visitors a year, and the Don Muang domestic airport this week.

 

The sit-ins have forced hundreds of flight cancellations, stranded thousands of tourists and grounded millions of dollars of air cargo.

 

Built in the 1960s as a major staging area for the US war in Indochina, U-Tapao's single runway can handle aircraft as large as an Airbus A380 superjumbo, Surapong said.

 

But with only four check-in counters, one baggage scanner, and a flight schedule hand-written on a white bulletin board, service was painfully slow in the cramped terminal building.

 

Some travelers took the delays in their stride.

 

"I don't have a visa but the airline helped me to stay at a hotel. It's no problem, but I'm glad I will go home," said an Iranian businessman stranded since Tuesday.

 

In Bangkok, Transport Minister Santi Prompat said national carrier Thai Airways would start flying 30,000 stranded tourists from the air force base adjacent to Don Muang from Saturday.

 

Fliers would be checked-in at city subway stations and shuttled by bus to the heavily-guarded air base, he said.

 

Several major Asian carriers announced special flights to pick up stranded passengers and crew from U-Tapao, near the tourist town of Pattaya, or other Thai airports.

 

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific said it would operate two flights on Friday and Saturday.

 

South Korea's Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines began sending flights on Thursday to carry up to 1,100 passengers.

 

Malaysian Airline has also put on flights, while a decision was expected soon on whether Kuala Lumpur would also send a military flight to pick up stranded passengers.

 

Taiwan's Eva Airways said it would put on two round trips to U-Tapao on Friday and Saturday.

 

China Airlines, put on a flight from Taipei to the northern city of Chiang Mai on Friday and will use a large plane for its Taipei-Chiang Mai flight on Saturday.

 

Manila's second largest carrier, Cebu Pacific Air, said it had cancelled all its flights to Bangkok until next Wednesday. Philippines Airlines also stopped flights but said it would review its decision daily.

 

The airport invasions have angered Thai tour operators and airlines as both domestic and foreign tourists cancel trips, threatening big financial losses and tarnishing Thailand's image.

 

But Australian golfer Ian Gonsal shrugged off the chaos.

 

"I'm sure Thailand will get through it," he said. "Of course I'll be back. See you next year."

 

(Reuters)