A day earlier than initial reports predicted. Suvarnabhumi International Airport, occupied by anti-Thai government protesters since November 25 and vacated only today, resumed partial operations with the arrival of a special THAI Airways flight TG2109 from Phuket at 1400 local time.
This set off a succession of international arrivals from destinations such as Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Hongkong and Narita, where THAI aircraft had been parked for days unable to return to Bangkok due to civil unrest that had sealed off the country. The airline’s first departure headed for Sydney at 1725, with services to Delhi, Narita, Frankfurt, Seoul and Copenhagen able to proceed normally.
Passengers needing to check on the status of the flights on THAI are adviced to call 66 2 356 1111 or visit www.thaiair.com for more information.
Bangkok Airways was the second airline to fly into Suvarnabhumi from Koh Samui with PG148, landing at 1620. The Airbus A319 aircraft left shortly at 1700 and returned with more stranded passengers at 1805. PG’s hot line is 66 2 265 8777 or log onto www.bangkokair.com for more updates.
The airport is expected to be restored to normalcy at midnight of December 5, however getting a re-certification in accordance with the rules and regulations of the International Civil Association Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations, will take between one and two weeks. Airport authorities are aiming to reach that status by December 15.
Peter Rajendran
