By The Nation
Hat Yai airport re-opens, but transport chaos continues
Some stranded passengers extended their stays in the South while others used other means of transport as closure of key southern airports entered the second day on Saturday.
"Do you know when is this going to end?" a businessman who decided to stay on in Phuket asked a journalist friend. He said he knew several travellers had made a similar decision but others decided to embark on sea&land transport to get out of the island.
In Krabi, the provincial airport also remained close, with six in-bound flights, two of them international, cancelled. Tourists who had booked out-bound flights have been told they could get re-fund.
Protesters occupying the Phuket and Krabi airports insisted they would continue their protest until the PAD leaders say otherwise. "As of now, we will stay here until the prime minister resigns," said a protest leader at the Phuket airport.
"We can't say when we can re-open the airport," said deputy Phuket governor Vorapot Rattasima after a meeting with high-level provincial, police and airport authorities. He dismissed fears that force would be applied to drive the protesters out.
Around 400 officers standing guard at the Phuket airport were not equip to disperse the crowds and were there only to ensure security and people's safety, senior provincial police officers said.
The airport occupation has alienated some PAD members in Phuket who were upset that the province's tourism was being affected. Some have disowned the movement and called for an end to the airport closure.
A protest has also taken place at the Surat Thani airport, forcing THAI to suspend its flight to the province on Saturday, citing concern for passengers' safety. The protest involved about 500 people, who blocked the airport's entrance.
The Hat Yai airport opened for service on Saturday although 5 flights were cancelled. Hundreds of protesters remained at the airport's entrance, while large numbers of police standing guard.
Meanwhile, some 255 railway workers have continued the railway strike on Saturday, affecting 12 northern routes, 27 northeastern routes, 39 southern routes and 15 freights.
Damage of the railway strike has been estimated at 51 million baht in lost revenues. Returned tickets have totalled 1.3 million baht.
Railway authorities were hoping the protest would not spread to 1,900 other railway workers.
The Hat Yai railway station was quiet, with signs "Temporary closed" placed at ticket booths.
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Hat Yai airport re-opens, but transport chaos continues
Some stranded passengers extended their stays in the South while others used other means of transport as closure of key southern airports entered the second day on Saturday.
"Do you know when is this going to end?" a businessman who decided to stay on in Phuket asked a journalist friend. He said he knew several travellers had made a similar decision but others decided to embark on sea&land transport to get out of the island.
In Krabi, the provincial airport also remained close, with six in-bound flights, two of them international, cancelled. Tourists who had booked out-bound flights have been told they could get re-fund.
Protesters occupying the Phuket and Krabi airports insisted they would continue their protest until the PAD leaders say otherwise. "As of now, we will stay here until the prime minister resigns," said a protest leader at the Phuket airport.
"We can't say when we can re-open the airport," said deputy Phuket governor Vorapot Rattasima after a meeting with high-level provincial, police and airport authorities. He dismissed fears that force would be applied to drive the protesters out.
Around 400 officers standing guard at the Phuket airport were not equip to disperse the crowds and were there only to ensure security and people's safety, senior provincial police officers said.
The airport occupation has alienated some PAD members in Phuket who were upset that the province's tourism was being affected. Some have disowned the movement and called for an end to the airport closure.
A protest has also taken place at the Surat Thani airport, forcing THAI to suspend its flight to the province on Saturday, citing concern for passengers' safety. The protest involved about 500 people, who blocked the airport's entrance.
The Hat Yai airport opened for service on Saturday although 5 flights were cancelled. Hundreds of protesters remained at the airport's entrance, while large numbers of police standing guard.
Meanwhile, some 255 railway workers have continued the railway strike on Saturday, affecting 12 northern routes, 27 northeastern routes, 39 southern routes and 15 freights.
Damage of the railway strike has been estimated at 51 million baht in lost revenues. Returned tickets have totalled 1.3 million baht.
Railway authorities were hoping the protest would not spread to 1,900 other railway workers.
The Hat Yai railway station was quiet, with signs "Temporary closed" placed at ticket booths.
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