News update on stranded passengers

"Given the large number of passengers, inperson contacts are advised," a THAI official said.

To secure a seat back home, passengers must contact the airline's offices on Vibhavadi-Rangsit, Lan Luang or Silom roads for flight rerouting and rescheduling, the officer said.

Then they can go to the Centara Grand Hotel to checkin at least five hours before departure time before being transferred to UTapao, 190 kilometres southeast of Bangkok.

Arriving passengers are also transferred to Centara Grand, which will operate THAI checkin counters under contract only until tomorrow.

The Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre is expected to open for checkin at 8am today, the officer said.

Frankfurt and Copenhagen are the only two European cities that THAI would fly to, she said.

In Japan, the only destination is Narita Airport and in India, it is New Delhi. THAI would also serve Hong Kong, Seoul, Beijing and Sydney. Seats to Europe are fully booked until Wednesday.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand opened a hot line at 1672 to provide updated information to tourists.

Tourism Minister Weerasak Kowsurat urged all Thais to take care of the visitors, saying Thais are tourist ambassadors. If travellers return home with a good impression, confidence would be restored quickly.

The 460 Muslim pilgrims who have been waiting for a flight to Mecca since the seizure of Suvarnabhumi Airport by protesters, finally took off from UTapao last night.

They checked in at Suvarnabhumi in the afternoon and were transferred to the eastern airport on 17 buses.

About 200 Hajj pilgrims are reportedly still left behind as Royal Jordan Airlines has not yet replied if it would come pick up them up.

Serirat Prasutanond, acting president of Airports of Thailand, said The People's Alliance for Democracy has been asked to allow 88 aircraft parked at Suvarnabhumi to leave so hapless passengers can get out.

He had tried several times but failed to convince PAD leaders at the airport to allow airline officers to fly the empty planes from the airport.

 "I don't call this a negotiation, but I would say I'm begging," he said.

PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang aid AOT and the airlines should send workers to maintain the planes, as PAD guards lack any knowledge about such matters.

He asked AOT to put the aircraft under tight supervision as he knew someone out there wanted to damage the airport's facilities.

A THAI stewardess also asked the PAD to release jetliners at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang.

"I know that they are protesting for a cause, but these foreign travellers do not deserve to suffer from our domestic issues. They need to go home," she said.

THAI has also started up daily flights between UTapao and Hat Yai. Today and tomorrow, TG2349 will depart from UTapao at 2pm and from Hat Yai at 4.15pm.