Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced that it will fly twice-daily between Singapore and Bangkok’s U-Tapao airport to aid stranded passengers.
These flights are targeted to operate until Wednesday, December 3, depending on the situation in Bangkok.
However, in view of other airlines starting routine flights to and from U-Tapao, SIA stresses that their flights are limited and travellers need to be patient. Facilities at U-Tapao are “basic and stretched, causing lengthy delays.”
Passengers are also advised to call SIA to find available seats on flights from U-Tapao or elsewhere. The hotline numbers are as follows: +66 2 353 6000 and +65 6223 8888.
SilkAir, on the other hand, has also launched 13 additional flights from Singapore to Phuket between December 2 and December 7 for stranded passengers who managed to make their way there from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Three additional flights to Chiang Mai onboard SilkAir’s Airbus A320 and A319 aircrafts have also been launched as of today, December 1.
SilkAir has been accepting tickets from SIA flights between Bangkok and Singapore for travel on Phuket to Singapore or Chiang Mai to Singapore flights with no additional charge.
However, passengers need to call the following numbers to book these SilkAir flights in advance. The numbers are as follows: +66 2 353 6000, +66 7630 4018/19/20, +65 6225 4488 or the 24-hour service at +65 6223 8888.
Bangkok Airways on the other hand, has commenced flights, twice daily, between Hua Hin and Samui in order to connect passengers going to Singapore or Hong Kong via Samui.
Continuing its rescue flights, Cathay Pacific will mount flights on Monday, December 1 and Tuesday, December 2 to bring its passengers to Hongkong. The airline has already brought close to 800 passengers back on its two flights since its first rescue launch on November 28.
On Monday, December 1, Cathay Pacific’s Boeing 777-300 left Hong Kong International airport at 0930 local time and arrived at U-Tapao at 1130. The 385-seat capacity aircraft was scheduled to touch down in Hongkong at 1730 local time.
A Cathay Pacific spokesman said: “We are trying our very best in very difficult circumstances to bring home as many people as we can, and we will certainly try to do more if conditions in Thailand allow us to do so.”
Peter Rajendran
