Stranded passengers in Thailand return to UAE
Etihad flights to assist passengers stranded in Thailand face difficulties
Abu Dhabi and Dubai: Emergency flights to repatriate passengers stranded in Thailand to the UAE face the prospect of disruption and possible cancellation if the Thai political situation worsens any further, a senior airways official told Gulf News on Saturday.
All flights between the UAE and the Thai capital Bangkok have been suspended since Tuesday due to anti-government demonstrations within the main terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The protesters are trying to force the resignation of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
"The protesters have cut off all but one traffic lane on the road leading to U-Tapao Airport, the alternative point of departure," Etihad Airways Corporate Communications Manager Anne Tulis said on Saturday.
"We are monitoring the situation and reviewing our relief flights operation on an ongoing basis," she added.
People's Alliance of Democracy (PAD) protesters have blockaded both Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports in Bangkok. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and thousands of passengers are stranded.
But the first Etihad Airways flight to repatriate stranded passengers landed at Abu Dhabi airport yesterday morning with 330 passengers on board.
"The flight was slightly delayed but the Boeing 777, carrying passengers of various nationalities, including Emirati nationals, eventually touched down," Tulis said, while adding that the second flight from U-Tapao airport is scheduled to land at Abu Dhabi Airport this morning.
Etihad Airways plans to repatriate hundreds of passengers stranded in Thailand. But there are serious difficulties on the horizon as "protesters seem to have decided to target other Thai airports, including the one we are operating from," Tulis said. A special Emirates flight carrying hundreds of stranded passengers arrived in Dubai on Saturday.
A spokesperson for Emirates said: "We operated a special flight yesterday to U-Tapao airport, located approximately 150km east of Bangkok, to recover stranded crew and passengers."
Do you know anyone who was stranded in Bangkok? What was their experience like? Should more airlines take up the initiative to set up special flights in such situations?
