In Reply to: and 16:45 posted by nasicampur on Saturday, 30. August 2008 at 19:09 Bali Time:
Phuket, Krabi airports remain closed as protests continue
HAT YAI: -- A total of 118 flights which were scheduled to land or depart from Phuket international airport in southern Thailand were canceled, while more than 15,000 passengers were unable to proceed on their journeys as protesters of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) continued blocking access to all airport entrances for the second day Saturday.
A similar situation occurred at the airport in the adjacent resort province of Krabi, where six domestic flights were unable to land since early Saturday.
Phuket's international airport director said the facility would remain closed until 6 pm, when concerned officials would evaluate the situation.
The officials will discuss the safety of passengers and of aircraft before deciding to opened fir business as usual, the director said.
Of Saturday's canceled flights, 93 were domestic and the remainder 25 served international destinations.
Meanwhile, PAD activists who had earlier blocked roads leading to Krabi airport successfully occupied the landing strip and access tarmac.
They said they would not leave the airport's runway until their colleagues in Bangkok achieved victory - ousting the coalition government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
As six flights of two airlines were unable to land at Krabi airport, officials arranged three air-conditioned coaches for passengers to travel to Bangkok.