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» 01.12.08 Phuket Airport director issues warning to PAD |
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01.12.08 Phuket Airport director issues warning to PAD
Source: Phuketgazette
The
scene at Phuket International Airport early this afternoon, as more and
more airlines try to re-route flights there. Photo by Kamol Pirat.
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MAI KHAO: Phuket International Airport Director Wicha Nernlop is
begging the anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to
end its siege of Bangkok’s two commercial airports, saying the revenue
lost already dwarfs the amount lost through corruption during the
Thaksin years.
Speaking to the Gazette this afternoon, Mr Wicha said that the number of travelers stranded in Phuket has now reached 20,000.
With
no end to the closures of the two airports in Bangkok in sight, many
airlines – including Thai International Airways – are trying to
re-route direct, international flights to and from Phuket.
Three airlines – KLM, Quantas and Air France – are ready to launch direct services from Phuket, he confirmed.
However,
Phuket Airport is only capable of handling about 1,000 additional
passengers per day. Apart from having insufficient fuel supplies, a
host of other operational problems limit the number of flights the
single-runway airport can service, he said.
Mr Wicha begged the
PAD to reopen Suvarnabhumi Airport as soon as possible, saying the
closure was tantamount to economic suicide.
Of the 20,000
tourists now stranded in Phuket, many are staying in hotels, with their
bills being paid for with financial assistance from airlines and the
Ministry of Tourism and Sports in Thailand, he said.
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