Thailand

Flights resume in Bangkok

Article published on the 2008-12-03 Latest update 2008-12-03 14:58 TU

Airport workers start up computers at the check-in counter at Bangkok's International Airport.
(Credit: Reuters)

Thousands of anti-government protesters have left Bangkok’s airports after a week of occupation. Flights will resume on Wednesday after the People’s Alliance for Democracy have handed back control of the buildings.

The first flights in a week left Bangkok Suvarnabhumi international airport on Wednesday after a week-long sit-in which left more than 350,000 travellers stranded.

"At the moment, the tension has died down," according to Bangkok journalist Kavi Chongkittavorn.

Cargo planes began taking off on Wednesday morning and the first international departure is expected on Thursday evening, according to Vudhibhandhu Vichairatana from the board of Airports of Thailand.

A domestic flight from Phuket is due to arrive later on Wednesday and authorities will "try and get everything back to normal as soon as possible", according to Vichairatana, although it will take some time to make security checks and ensure all IT systems are fully functional.

The People's Action for Democracy (PAD) decided to leave Bangkok's two airports after a court yesterday banned Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat holding office and ordered the ruling People Power Party (PPP) to disband.

The PPP is expected to reform under a different name and acting Prime Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul vosed not to dissolve parliament and said that a new Prime Minister is likely to be elected early next week. But, "if they can not form a new coalition, there could be dissolution of the house, and then a new election will be announced," Chongkittavorn told RFI.