Latest Information about Repatriating Stranded People

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One of the articles mentions where to go in Bangkok for those traveling on Thai Airways. Nothing is said in the articles about what to do if you're in another city. The Thai Airways office in Pattaya is located right where North Road (Pattaya Nua) curves and becomes Beach Road. If you are in Pattaya, that's where I would try first.

 

The following two articles appear in THE NATION:

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News Update on Stranded Passengers

 

By The Nation

 

Thai Airways International said Sunday it would service 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 checkin at least five hours before departure time before being transferred to U-Tapao, 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 travelers 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.

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Several Nations Race to Repatriate Nationals Stranded in Thailand

 

By The Nation, Agencies

 

Foreign nations have rushed to evacuate their nationals being stranded in Thailand after anti-government protesters closed down Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports.

 

China had provided seven charter flights to repatriate its stranded nationals, believed to number 2,000-3,000 people, by Saturday and had further flights planned for Sunday, Xinhua news agency said.

 

The agency said the first of the flights bringing home Chinese citizens arrived in Shanghai early on Sunday.

 

Meanwhile Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has ordered her foreign department to account for hundreds of Filipinos among those stranded in the Thai capital and asked that they be brought home to Manila from the northern city of Chiang Mai.

 

Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said his government was becoming increasingly frustrated by Thai authorities' inability to help evacuate tourists caught up in the demonstrations which have paralysed air traffic.

 

"It's very frustrating for us and it's very frustrating for those stranded Australians," he said.

 

"Some are becoming increasingly distressed, and we understand that. We've been working very hard putting pressure on the Thai airlines and on the Thai tourism authorities to try and get some Thai airline flights out.

 

He said Canberra had urged Thai airlines and tourism authorities to provide extra flights out and accommodation for the hundreds of luckless Australian visitors, but noted that "we can't rely upon... that presenting a conclusion".

 

Australian airline Qantas would provide extra flights to Thailand, but that is dependent upon getting access to the airports and getting flights in, Smith said.

 

Japan's two major airlines, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways said Sunday they are organising flights from the U-Tapao air base to bring back tourists stranded by mass protests.

 

Meanwhile Spain will send three planes, two military aircraft and a chartered plane to Thailand to bring back some 300 of its citizens.

 

"Considering the special circumstances in Thailand, the Spanish government has decided to take action so that Spanish nationals affected by the continuing closure of the Bangkok airports can return home," said a foreign ministry statement.