Chaos ensued at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport last night as Thai Airways canceled all flights to Europe and Pakistan, after Pakistan’s decision to close its airspace, leaving more than 4,000 travelers in the lurch.
As of press time, operations are scheduled to resume today ,with the first flight to Europe departing to Frankfurt at 12:40PM.
Amid escalating tensions with India, which yesterday saw Pakistan claim to have shot down two of their neighbor’s fighter jets, Pakistan had earlier told all airlines to “suspend their operations” in the country until further notice, citing safety concerns.
Civil Aviation Authority of #Pakistan has officially closed its airspace until further notice & issued NOTAM. 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/qGZBMiKxvG
— CAA Pakistan (@AirportPakistan) February 27, 2019
Kittipong Kittikachorn, deputy director of Suvarnabhumi Airport, walked through the airport informing passengers of the cancellations last night while providing them with a 24-hour Thai Airways call center number where they were to direct inquiries and request updates regarding their flights, reported PPTV.
“The airport does not know when flights will resume, because the situation is related to war. So the best thing we [Suvarnabhumi airport] can do today is taking care of the tourists to the best of our ability,” he told the local TV outlet.
Those hoping for immediate updates, however, may find it tough going. When Coconuts Bangkok tried dialing the provided number several times this morning, we failed to get through to a human phone operator even once.
Kittipong recommended that passengers stay in nearby hotels while waiting for updates. A phone representative at Thai Airway’s Public Relations office told us this morning that the airline handled accommodation costs.
Meanwhile, Suvarnabhumi Airport has reportedly coordinated with the Department of Land Transport and Public Taxis to provide extra transportation for passengers in order to help them find accommodations near the airport.
That’s something that should come in handy given that, as of this morning, all hotels surrounding or near the airport are completely full, according to Workpoint.
If you’re seeking information about your flight, the number is +662 356 1111, or you can visit www.thaiairways.com
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