Anti-government protesters in Thailand allowed 37 empty aircraft to leave Bangkok’s main airport, as 300,000 travellers remained stranded in the country following a week-long shutdown of the international terminal.
“More are coming to take their planes out once the crew and pilots are ready,” Serirat Prasutanond, general manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport, said today by phone from Bangkok. Thousands of anti-government protesters stormed the airport terminal on November 25, leaving 88 planes stranded on the tarmac. Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd and Singapore Airlines Ltd are among carriers using the U-Tapao military airfield east of Bangkok to evacuate passengers. About 300,000 travellers were trapped in Thailand, Tourism Minister Weerasak Kohsurat told the TNN news channel today, and the government has warned it may take a month to repatriate them.
“U-Tapao is very crowded now,” Weerasak said in comments broadcast on TNN. “We will divert some flights to two airports in Nakhon Ratchasima province. Chiang Mai and Phuket will also help send stranded passengers out.”
Members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, composed mostly of the Bangkok middle class, royalists and civil servants, shut down the Suvarnabhumi international and Don Mueang domestic airports to pressure Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to resign.
They accuse Somchai of being a proxy of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. The PAD has rejected calls for fresh elections and wants a new political system that dilutes votes from poor farmers, who comprise Thaksin’s political base.
A few thousand protesters remained at Suvarnabhumi airport today, wrapped in blankets and sweatshirts to shield themselves from a cool breeze outside the main terminal building. Several dozen lined up for packets of sticky rice and pork, and a guitarist sang from the main stage, prompting a smattering of protesters to keep the beat with plastic hand-clappers.
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PAD volunteers were mopping floors, cleaning bathrooms and taking the trash out at the airport terminal. Some companies with operations at the airport sent employees to check on their businesses. Siam Commercial Bank Pcl had eight security guards checking on its various kiosks, many of which were unmanned.
“I will keep coming every day,’ said Lek Sawangchaleng, 62, a retired miner from Hua Hin who owns an apartment in Bangkok. “I have to fight for my country and my king. I’m not scared. I don’t think the police will come here.”
The main international terminal can still be accessed, including areas housing the immigration checkpoints and x-ray machines, though there were no signs of people or looting.
Restarting the airport will take at least a week from the time the protesters leave because of security and technical system checks, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing Suvarnabhumi Airport’s Serirat.
Suvarnabhumi will be closed until 6 pm on December 3, and Don Mueang will be closed until 9 am on Wednesday, Serirat said today by phone. The closures may be extended depending on events, said Serirat, who’s also acting president of Airports of Thailand Pcl, the airport operator.
About 40,000 travellers have left Thailand since the closure of the nation’s two main airports, Tourism Minister Weerasak saidon Tuesday. The government has turned the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center into a check-in terminal to help alleviate the pressure on airports including U-Tapao.
“It is a difficult situation for the government and authorities,” said Chew Choon Seng, chief executive officer of Singapore Airlines. “In due course, we will offer them some of our comments. At this point in time, we have to leave it to the authorities, in their wisdom, to manage the situation.”
Singapore Air, which has one Boeing Co 777 airplane grounded at Suvarnabhumi airport, will continue to operate twice-daily services between Singapore and U-Tapao, at least until December 3, Chew said.
Qantas Airways Ltd, Australia’s largest carrier, will operate a second relief flight between Phuket in Thailand and Singapore early on December 3, it said in an e-mailed statement.
The Sydney-based carrier will operate its first relief flight, also between Phuket and Singapore, late on Tuesday.
“We have been doing everything possible to support our customers and other Australians in Thailand,” Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said in the statement.
More than 300 Hong Kong travellers returned to the territory on a Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd flight from Phuket, Hong Kong news service RTHK reported on Tuesday. The carrier will send another aircraft to Phuket later on Tuesday, the report said.
Japan’s All Nippon Airways Co will add a special flight from U-Tapao airport tomorrow. The flight will leave Thailand at 1:30 pm local time and arrive at Narita at 9:30 pm, the Tokyo-based carrier said in a statement.
Air France-KLM Group, Europe’s biggest airline, also plans to fly stranded travelers from Phuket. The first flight to Amsterdam will leave at 7 pm local time today and the second flight to Paris is scheduled for Wednesday at 11:30 pm local time, the Paris-based airline said yesterday.