Stranded in Bangkok

The Egyptian government called on its citizens in Thailand to head to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where they would be evacuated by Egyptian planes, reports Amirah Ibrahim

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The national carrier EgyptAir has suspended operations on its Thai route to Bangkok and its Chinese routes to Beijing and Guangzhou, operated through Bangkok.

"We operate a daily flight to Bangkok, four weekly flights to Beijing and three weekly flights to Guangzhou; all have been suspended till another declaration," commented the airline Boss, Shereif Galal. "As far as the Bangkok airport being closed, all bookings from Cairo have been cancelled. As for the bookings to Chinese destinations, we have diverted them to other airlines which operate either direct flights to China or through other far eastern points," he explained.

According to Galal, the airline would study a number of alternatives to avoid damaging its expansion plans in the Far East where it already struggles to live among tough competitors. "Operating Chinese destinations is a strategic option because we have been working to develop them; thus we would do our best to maintain our position in the Far East market," he added.

Thailand's main two airports -- the Suvarnabhumi international and Don Mueang domestic airports -- remained paralysed as government fears of a coup are rife after negotiations failed to clear thousands of protesters.

About 750 flights a day can't get in or out of Suvarnabhumi, Asia's fourth-busiest airport with as many as 100,000 passengers a day, the airport operator's data shows.

Cathay Pacific Airways, which is evacuating people trapped in Thailand by protests, warned of "chaotic " conditions and long lines at a military airfield handling emergency flights.

Airport officials said that it might take as long as a month to repatriate the thousands of foreign passengers stranded in the Thai capital. Foreign nations have rushed to evacuate their nationals stranded in Thailand. China had provided seven charter flights to repatriate its stranded nationals, believed to number 2-3,000. Japan's two major airlines, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways said Sunday they are organising flights from the U-Tapao air base to bring back tourists stranded by the mass protests. Meanwhile, Spain will send three planes, two military aircraft and a chartered plane to Thailand to bring back some 300 of its citizens.

More than 450 Muslim pilgrims stranded at Bangkok's besieged international airport for four days were bused Sunday to the U-Tapao naval base about 140 kilometres southeast of Bangkok. There, they were to board an Iran Air flight to Saudi Arabia. "We were informed that Suvarnabhumi Airport will remain closed until Tuesday. Then again, there is no assurance that it will open then," MAS Area Manager for Thailand A Vijakumaran said.