VTBD was reactivated months ago for domestic flights , however it is only receiving the occasional international flight. No international departures from VTBD.

Also it seems no more reservations are being accepted for domestic departures from about 2 hours ago - just in case!

Reliable sources I have report that certain of the cargo sheds at Suvarnabhumi have been commandeered for use by security forces. I expect that there will be some action tonight to reclaim the airport.

Diversions to U-Tapao
 

The following flights are known to have diverted to U-Tapao(VTBU/UTP) on the 26th,

KMI302 B727 K Mile from SIN
IC853 A320 Indian Airlines from DEL
IC693 A321 Indian Airlines from BOM
TG508 A330 Thai from KHI
U63785 A320 Ural Airlines from SVX
TG520 A330 Thai from DXB
TG941 A340 Thai from FCO
LY081 B777 El Al from TLV
ET606 B767 Etheopian from ADD
OS025 B777 Austrian from VIE
BR68 B744 EVA from LHR
XF737 TU-204 Vladivostok A/L from SEL

BKK closure
 

A highly reliable source in Bangkok in the airfreight industry reports the Airports of Thailand(AoT) have announced that Suvarnabhumi airport will not re-open before 18.00 local time on the 27th(11.00Z).

A further announcement will be made tomorrow.

Can anyone confirm if AY095 HEL-BKK landed safely and if so what time. Friends were on board and can't make contact.

Thanks.

Finnair flight
 

AY095 from Helsinki was cancelled today according to the AOT Suvarnabhumi webpage.

My apologies I was referring to the previous days operation, arriving BKK on the Tuesday evening. I know the flight was delayed approx 6 hours ex HEL.

I've been in text contact with a pal there and he says he thinks things are starting to happen now. Heavily armed police, rather than armed forces is the perception.

Any clarification from anyone?

I just heard on the news that the PM landed at a different airport within Thailand. From what I can gather, the reason the airport was stormed was to stop the PM landing there. Now that the PM has landed elsewhere in the country, surely the PAD can give up blockading BKK as there's no need anymore...

My thoughts to all those stuck there, particularly those stuck airside who can't move either forwards or backwards. Hopefully you'll all be able to get going shortly

The protesters know that the PM flew in to Chiang Mai yesterday, but they're not about to pull out of the airport. It's strategically important to them. They have said they'll continue to keep the airport closed until the PM resigns, so it's stalemate.

What happens next at the airport may well be key to whether or not the uprising spreads to the streets nationally. It's interesting, because I don't think the army are gonna get involved if the government asks them to. It looks like a not very well disguised military encouraged coup.

A TRUE BANANA REPUBLIC IN PROGRESS....:ok:

My experience of Thailand is not of a banana republic. Things work there, the infrastructure is sound, hospitals good- Bumrungrad Hospital is of world class. Electric supply fine, public transport good, business environment good. I love the place. We have civil strife over politics- exactly what we will have in the UK if we don't get this awful government out along with our horrifyingly dreadful spendthrift leader! It could happen here. Might be only me, but I will do my best!

I think you're talking about the psuedo-middle class and heavily westernised orbits of Bangkok and similar cities.

Other parts of the country (and swathes of Bangkok) aren't anywhere near as developed as that. Take a train out of Bangkok and experience from the comfort of your air conditioned train seat how the other four fifths live.

But nor is it a Banana Republic. It's similar to a lot of other Asian countries in that the trappings of a modern western lifestyle are in abundance, but the whole infrastructure buidling era has been bypassed in many areas, even though it had a big infrastructure boost a few years ago when Uncle Sam was in town. You can have your broadband and your 3G phone there, but don't expect civic amenities and utilities. Seen many ramshackle shacks with satellite dishes in my time. The decent infrastructure that was put in place a few decades ago is crumbling in many areas. Sounds a bit like Britain dunnit.

And yes - I have lived and worked there a fair bit over the years. Up in the north, in the middle and down in the south. It's a cracking place and I wouldn't change a lot of it for the world, but it's got big problems and the biggest one is the turbulent political scene (nationally and locally). It's hard to see how they'll ever have harmony, because anarchy seems to pervade a certain section of every generation.

And given that it's a nation built on exports, I fear for the future of Thailand. The economy there is on the brink and I don't think you'll see any Tiger affected more by the global downturn than Thailand.

But yeah, apparently the mission to re-take the airport is on. Interesting times.

AY095
 

Can anyone confirm if AY095 HEL-BKK landed safely on Tuesday evening and if so what time. Friends were on board and can't make contact. Their parents are concerned.

Thanks.:ok:

I did a search for diversion info, and the website I found said it never left HEL.

"Finnair
AY095 HEL - BKK, departing 25NOV08 from HEL cancelled
AY096 BKK - HEL, departing 26NOV08 from BKK at 0035, delayed to 0300"

Great country and great people, my flight yesterday cancelled, hope they work things out soon.

I am in SYD at the moment (we were one of the last flights out of BKK just before it closed) and this afternoon instead of operating the BA010 to BKK, we are taking it to SIN. From there, we are not sure what will happen. We have the a/c from yesterday's canx BA010 to BKK, shame as we wouldn't mind an extra 24 hours here.

Our rosters still say that we will be operating BKK-LHR on Saturday, but who knows.

Don Mueang also closed
 

the thais have now closed also don mueang. only upt is at the moment receiving flights destine for BKK.

according to our station in BKK they expect a "clearing" of the terminal within the day. there seems to be heavy troop movement in the area.

anybody can confirm that?

we were able to ferry out one a/c which was on the ground empty. so its all now for us water under the bridge except the revenue losses and the poor angry pax sitting in BKK.

we are coordinating with our crews in BKK to take a rent-a-car to KL and than go DH back home.

this is a real mess in Thailand. spoke to our reservation department and we have about 70% cancellation to BKK till january.

other airlines are in a similiar situation and are getting cancellations by the hundreds per hour for BKK.

how is UPT handling the traffic? any experience on turn around time there for A320?

A state of emergency has just been called for both airports in Bangkok. Police have been assigned to break up the protests. I assume they'll use all necessary force. Also it has been announced that the main airport will remain closed until at least 6pm 29th November.

station manager is reporting heavy police movement in the area - good that he's home - any news from there?