Bangkok test drives new airport

[pbateson]

Maybe delayed of opening due to coup

[AJ]

Maybe delayed of opening due to coup

What terrible timing for the coup. Hopefully it won't also lead in a downturn in Bangkok traffic.

[CathayPacific]

What terrible timing for the coup. Hopefully it won't also lead in a downturn in Bangkok traffic.

Probably won't. Thais are so used to coup that everything are moving along normally. And it seems that tourists going to Thailand are also getting used to coups. According to CNN, "The coup caused little stir in Bangkok's popular tourist districts, where foreigners packed beer bars and cabarets just a few miles from where the tanks were posted".

International flights to/from Don Muang appears to be operating normally. According to Hong Kong newspapers, tour groups scheduled to go to Bangkok today (Wednesday) are departing as scheduled. While Bangkok is a popular destination for Hong Kong people, two Hong Kong tour companies currently having more than 30 tour groups in Bangkok told Hong Kong newspaper that the groups would continue their trips in Bangkok today as scheduled.

Hong Kong International Airport's departure board shows that all flights to BKK (by Thai, Orient Thai, China Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Gulf Air, etc.) all departed on time on Wednesday. They are not even delayed.

It is really a unique phenomenon that probably would only occur in Thailand, with tanks rolling on the streets overthrowing a government while everything (including the most sensitive tourism industry) going has if nothing as happened.

[pbateson]

Probably won't. Thais are so used to coup that everything are moving along normally. And it seems that tourists going to Thailand are also getting used to coups. According to CNN, "The coup caused little stir in Bangkok's popular tourist districts, where foreigners packed beer bars and cabarets just a few miles from where the tanks were posted".

International flights to/from Don Muang appears to be operating normally. According to Hong Kong newspapers, tour groups scheduled to go to Bangkok today (Wednesday) are departing as scheduled. While Bangkok is a popular destination for Hong Kong people, two Hong Kong tour companies currently having more than 30 tour groups in Bangkok told Hong Kong newspaper that the groups would continue their trips in Bangkok today as scheduled.

Hong Kong International Airport's departure board shows that all flights to BKK (by Thai, Orient Thai, China Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Gulf Air, etc.) all departed on time on Wednesday. They are not even delayed.

It is really a unique phenomenon that probably would only occur in Thailand, with tanks rolling on the streets overthrowing a government while everything (including the most sensitive tourism industry) going has if nothing as happened.

What about 28th Sept?

[CathayPacific]

What about 28th Sept?

The government hasn't said anything about this. But of course, changing arrangements with the airport is probably not the priority of the new government. Personally, I expect the opening of the new airport to be unaffected. It is nothing political after all. Cathay Pacific's web site is still showing an advisory advicing passengers that its last Sep 27 (yes, Sep 27) flight from HKG to BKK will land at the new airport and on Sep 28, all CX flights to/from BKK will use the new airport. So at least for the airlines, it's business as usual. And it seems so to the general public in Thailand too.

[uy707]

Update

Thai Airways to start international flights at new airport one week early

BANGKOK, Sept 22, 2006 (AFP) -
Thai Airways will start using Bangkok's new airport for three international flights from Friday, a week ahead of its official opening, the flag carrier said in a statement.

Looks the test drive has been conclusive.

Alain