Special flights for stranded foreigners

Thai Airways International yesterday said it would arrange 31 special flights at U-tapao Airport - 18 departures and 13 arrivals - to help evacuate stranded tourists whose numbers have reportedly reached 160,000.

"Given the large number of passengers, in-person 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 check-in at least five hours before departure time before being transferred to U-tapao, 190 kilometres southeast of Bangkok.

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

The Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre is expected to open for check-in at 8am today.

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

In Japan, the only destination is Tokyo's 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 U-tapao last night.

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 said 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.

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