First commercial flight lands at Suvarnabhumi after besieging ended

nationmultimedia.com — Thai Airways International's Flight TG2109 became the first commercial flight to land at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport Wednesday afternoon after the People's Alliance for Democracy ended its demonstration there. The flight from Phuket landed at 2:10 pm. read more...

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Thai Airways International operates from an airport outside Bangkok

travel.asiaone.com — Thai Airways International (THAI) yesterday (November 27) operated a special flight from U-Tapao International Airport, to fly some stranded passengers to Singapore. Senior executive vice president Panthit Chanabhai said that Airbus A330 left U-Tapao, about 190km east of Bangkok in Rayong province, at 6pm. THAI is responsible for the extra expenses as well as the expenses to fly passengers to their desired destinations from Changi Airport. It will also arrange more flights to take stranded passengers out of the country. "About 10,000 passengers of THAI have been stranded here. The problem is most aircraft is parked at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang and we can't move them. "This would certainly affect the number of THAI passengers in the future. In the first six months of next year, there would be no high season for THAI," he said. ACM Narongsak Sangapong, acting president of THAI, said earlier that THAI has prepared two emergency measures, one of them is to resume operations at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports after the government issued the state of emergency at the two airports. Narongsak said that if the situation in at the two facilities is prolonged, THAI would shift flights to U-Tapao which is the most convenient to passengers. He said that THAI has sent a team of officers to U-Tapao to prepare for the operations both in refilling and ticketing. read more...

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PAD takes over air traffic control tower

bangkokpost.com — (BangkokPost.com) About 30 People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) guards wearing masks on Wednesday took control of Suvarnabhumi airport’s air traffic control tower to check the daily flight schedule. PAD security head Samdin Lertbutr together with a group of guards entered the air traffic control tower and negotiated with the airport officials. The group said they wanted to make sure that no flights will leave or enter Suvarnabhumi while checking whether Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat’s flight would arrive at the airport. Initially, airport officials permitted five of the guards to enter the tower, but the guards later requested the officials to let all of them go through to prevent the police from using the tower as a command centre against them. read more...

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Pilot who barred PPP MPs from flight reinstated

nationmultimedia.com — Thai Airways International has reinstated captain Chakri Chongsiri who was earlier suspended for his alleged refusal to let three MPs of the People Power Party board the flight. THAI President Apinan Sumanaseni said yesterday that the pilot had been cleared of the allegation after an investigating team found that he did not breach the protocol. Chakri has resumed his work as pilot since early November. Apinan said Chakri had vowed in writing not to repeat the incident. On October 8, the three MP members filed complaints after they were not allowed to board their flight to Khon Kaen and Udon Thani. Eyewitnesses said the captain came out of the cockpit and announced that his flight would not allow "tyrants, PPP MPs or politicians who harm people" to board. Chakri was consequently subjected to investigation. Capt Kathathong Suwannathat, deputy chief of Boeing 737-400 pilots, said Chakri was issued a written warning and told to control his emotion. Chakri was also placed under surveillance to see if he would follow instructions. Kathathong said five pilot trainers resigned as trainers after Chakri was reprimanded, saying the order was unfair. Chakri was also reinstated as a trainer in mid-October. read more...

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Suvarnabhumi going for 'top 10' airports

bangkokpost.com — Airports of Thailand (AoT) reported that it will promote Suvarnabhumi Airport as one of the world's top ten international airports in terms of outstanding service within the coming year. Speaking on the occasion of the second anniversary of the airport's opening, AoT acting president Serirat Prasutanont said more than 80 million people had used the service in the past two years. Of this, 41.9 million are passengers traveling during October 2006 to September 2007 and 38.5 million during October 2007 to August 2008. read more...

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