Suvarnabhumi closed

[PigDogg]

(Rocket J. Squirrel @ Nov. 26 2008,18:55) I still can't decide whether to fly to Thailand (if the flight is going) on Tuesday or not.  

Rocky, You will not be in any danger from the demonstrators if the flight lands. If not going means you have to waste vacation days in farangland don't postpone.

[DutchCowboy]

(SamplerDoc @ Nov. 27 2008,08:02) What the hell are thinking when the economy is already down....
I know...lets chase away the farang and the money they bring

Source: Bangkok post

The shutdown of Suvarnabhumi Airport by People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters is not only costing carriers billions of baht each day but also driving airlines away from operating through Thailand's gateway.

Bangkok's status as an air hub for Southeast Asia could be ruined as international airlines see Suvarnabhumi as an insecure port of call that may endanger their aircraft, assets and paralyse their daily operations.

Some may turn to Bangkok's rival airports such as Singapore's Changi Airport or Kuala Lumpur International, where security and incentives are not issues of concern.

"This turmoil will be remembered by airlines, and some may say they have had enough and go elsewhere," said Tassapon Bijleveld, chief executive of the low-cost carrier Thai AirAsia.

Air traffic through Thailand could slump anyway because of the ugly incident that has highlighted the absence of the rule of law, coupled with the worsening economic global recession.

Aside from watching their businesses completely shut down on Tuesday night, airline managers are concerned about the safety of their precious assets: scores of aircraft were forced to park on the tarmac.

Suvarnabhumi, one of Asia's busiest airports, handles more than 400 flights a day and accommodates more than 100,000 passengers.

Airlines reported extensive financial damage yesterday due to the cancelled flights, let alone the headaches in handling thousands of stranded passengers.

Thai Airways International (THAI) reported 500 million baht in daily revenue losses, while Bangkok Airways had 35 million baht dry up, according to industry sources.

"We can handle that if the airport is closed for only one or two days," said Narongsak Singapore, the acting THAI president.

The closure is yet another blow for airlines, already struggling to keep themselves afloat in a dismal economic environment. Airlines are offering waivers for ticket conditions including refund, cancellation, penalty and postponement fees for those who were supposed to travel during the closure.

---

Agree, not a very smart move...

[TTChang]

(Stogie @ Nov. 27 2008,10:16) The capital is now completely cut off from all air traffic!

And Thailand looks like a banana republic, completely cut off from reality.

Bananas .....  cut off from reality .....  a bit like a night in Pattaya (Stringfellows?)  

[Snick]

Coup rumors are in the air

[robbo]

with both BKK airports closed now,its not good,and police and military not willing to take any action in fact it looks like they are in support of whats happening.do not suppose that this will be over quickly it could go on for a while.oh well such is thailand anything can and invariably does happen,so DUTCHCOWBOY take this as a sort of initiation into the way things can be in LOS,you just dont know whats about to happen in my experience,not allways good. as its your 1st trip u have my sympathy, tho i can tell you if it were my 2nd 3rd or more trip id probably be more pissed.i got to heathrow once only to be told my flight was cancelled,just had to go with the flow,hang in there mate youll get there sometime.when you do keep your eyes and ears open to whats happening in the country would be my advice.

[DutchCowboy]

State of emergency called by PM. Now they call in the cops and army to clear the airport. Great! Spend the entire day re-scheduling / re-booking    

I bet ya PAD retaliates by taking over Phuket airport. Sigh .

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008...rport-protests

[Ivor Biggun]

Democracy of the (rich) people, by the (rich) people, for the (rich) people.

[dummy_plug]

Does this mean the baht is posed for a precipitous fall?

[PigDogg]

(dummy_plug @ Nov. 27 2008,17:35) Does this mean the baht is posed for a precipitous fall?

It certainly puts downward pressure on the baht.

It will also put downward pressure on airfares.

So the PAD actions would seem to benefit the diehard "sextourist".

[Torurot]

http://news.yahoo.com/s...._unrest
Thailand to negotiate with airport protesters

BANGKOK, Thailand €“ Thailand's government backed off Friday from its threat to forcibly remove protesters occupying Bangkok's two airports, dashing hopes of a quick resolution to a standoff that has stranded thousands of travelers and tarnished the country's image. ....etc


The Bangkok Post quoted experts as saying that the damage from the airport shutdown could range between 134 billion baht and 215 billion baht ($3.7 billion and $6 billion) if the standoff extends to December. The meeting and convention business has already suffered losses of 11 billion baht ($310 million), it said.

[ts33a]

This sucks. I am suppose to be in BKK on the 5th of December. I didnt cancel my flight yet but from what I have been reading it does not look good at all. I still have alternative plans to go to Manila.

Do you know that the pro-gov. people killed one the PAD's members father in retaliation.



I dont know how those PAD people think. Did you see how happy they were in the pictures. I could just smack them.

What point are they making? Nothing. Nobody has any sympathy for what they are doing. Or at least I dont.

[sev7en]

(ts33a @ Nov. 28 2008,16:42) This sucks. I am suppose to be in BKK on the 5th of December.

4th for me.

[ts33a]

This is my 4th trip also (this year). I just want to keep on coming back.

[sev7en]

(ts33a @ Nov. 28 2008,16:46)

This is my 4th trip also (this year). I just want to keep on coming back.

Eh, i´m supposed to be in Bkk Dec. 4th.
Doesnt´t look too good though.

[bkkafterdark]

Not been reading through all the threads but if i was only a few days from coming to thailand as some the reports in the forum i would change flight to singapore or KL, and make my way from there to hadyai or phuket, you can then get anywhere in thailand by bus or train. It may take additional day of travel but the cost would be minimal.

There are direct flights from Singapore to Phuket, not sure about KL though but i would just get a bus just in case phuket airport is closed.

Hope everyone gets here safely.