Phuket Airport Operating Normally

Monday, April 13, 2009

Phuket Airport operating normally

PHUKET (thephuketinsider.com): A visit to Phuket International Airport this morning confirmed that flights between Phuket and Bangkok are operating as usual, despite the Thai government's declaration of a state of emergency in the nation's capital late yesterday. Thai Airways staff as well as those of other airlines say there has been no disruption of scheduled flights.

Phuket Airport Director, Wicha Nernlop told the Gazette earlier today that the airport continues to welcome an average of 10,000 passengers on 40 flights daily.

A total of about 70,000 passengers, 60% of them foreigners, are already booked on flights to Phuket between April 13 and 17, Mr Wicha added.

Travellers currently in Phuket with tickets to fly to Bangkok this week are advised to call ahead and reconfirm their fight times, however.

Airport traffic out of Phuket was brisk this morning as a number of tourists had brought their departure dates forward out of concern that the situation in Bangkok could worsen. Some expressed anxiety about the possibility of being unable to get back home.

The current Songkran and Easter holidays mark the end of Phuket tourism’s high season and there remains much speculation about the prospects for the region's low season.

As the island swings into Thai New Year celebrations, there is little evidence of any political strife locally, though many Thais are watching events unfold on TV as the government and the protesters appear to be headed on a collision course.