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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Britons stranded in Thai capital | Britons stranded in Thai capital |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| British travellers stranded in Thailand after protests at Bangkok international airport are being advised to contact their tour operators or airline. | British travellers stranded in Thailand after protests at Bangkok international airport are being advised to contact their tour operators or airline. |
| Thousands of passengers became trapped in the airport after anti-government protesters occupied it on Tuesday. | Thousands of passengers became trapped in the airport after anti-government protesters occupied it on Tuesday. |
| By Wednesday, most were evacuated and the Foreign Office said all Britons affected had been moved to hotels. | By Wednesday, most were evacuated and the Foreign Office said all Britons affected had been moved to hotels. |
| The supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy have also blocked a second airport in Bangkok. | |
| It is understood the Thai government has now declared a state of emergency at both airports. | It is understood the Thai government has now declared a state of emergency at both airports. |
| Reports say police will be deployed to take control, but military force will not be used. | Reports say police will be deployed to take control, but military force will not be used. |
| The Don Mueang domestic airport closed after protesters blocked the terminal building, in an apparent attempt to stop officials flying to meet the Thai prime minister. | The Don Mueang domestic airport closed after protesters blocked the terminal building, in an apparent attempt to stop officials flying to meet the Thai prime minister. |
| Meanwhile, protesters at the city's main international airport, Suvarnabhumi, say they will stay until the government resigns. | Meanwhile, protesters at the city's main international airport, Suvarnabhumi, say they will stay until the government resigns. |
| Popular destination | Popular destination |
| All flights have been cancelled and thousands of frustrated tourists are stranded in Bangkok until the airport, one of Asia's busiest, can reopen. | All flights have been cancelled and thousands of frustrated tourists are stranded in Bangkok until the airport, one of Asia's busiest, can reopen. |
| Londoner Hannah Symons, who had been on her way to India to trace her roots, said there had been little help available from the British consulate in Thailand, her airline or her insurance company. | Londoner Hannah Symons, who had been on her way to India to trace her roots, said there had been little help available from the British consulate in Thailand, her airline or her insurance company. |
| "Late last night my sister and I managed to get a hotel room but it took ages because all the hotels were booked out. We are still a half hour drive from the airport," she said. | "Late last night my sister and I managed to get a hotel room but it took ages because all the hotels were booked out. We are still a half hour drive from the airport," she said. |
| "Nobody will talk to us and there is no information. Who is looking after the tourists? There is nowhere to go and nobody to talk to. I don't understand how we can just be left." | "Nobody will talk to us and there is no information. Who is looking after the tourists? There is nowhere to go and nobody to talk to. I don't understand how we can just be left." |
| The Foreign Office said consular assistance would be provided for anyone who required it. | The Foreign Office said consular assistance would be provided for anyone who required it. |
| The consular team at our embassy is offering assistance to British nationals affected, and liaising with the airlines Bill Rammell, Foreign Office minister Britons moved from Thai airport | The consular team at our embassy is offering assistance to British nationals affected, and liaising with the airlines Bill Rammell, Foreign Office minister Britons moved from Thai airport |
| The blockade comes at the height of the tourist season. Thailand is particularly popular among British travellers, with 860,000 visiting last year. | The blockade comes at the height of the tourist season. Thailand is particularly popular among British travellers, with 860,000 visiting last year. |
| Student travel company STA has about 100 customers in Bangkok, most of whom are backpackers in their teens and early 20s. | Student travel company STA has about 100 customers in Bangkok, most of whom are backpackers in their teens and early 20s. |
| A STA spokeswoman said it had not received many calls from stranded customers, but the company was trying to get in touch with all of them. | A STA spokeswoman said it had not received many calls from stranded customers, but the company was trying to get in touch with all of them. |
| It has said it will waive fees for those wanting to change their flight dates. | It has said it will waive fees for those wanting to change their flight dates. |
| Briton Julian Fernandez, who runs a fishing holidays business from Bangkok, said the airport's closure was likely to leave him out of pocket and he hoped it would reopen soon. | Briton Julian Fernandez, who runs a fishing holidays business from Bangkok, said the airport's closure was likely to leave him out of pocket and he hoped it would reopen soon. |
| He said one customer was stranded in Malaysia after his flight was diverted, while others were forced to stay on longer in the Thai capital when their flight home was cancelled. | He said one customer was stranded in Malaysia after his flight was diverted, while others were forced to stay on longer in the Thai capital when their flight home was cancelled. |
| "They will be here four days longer than they wanted to be. They're quite happy as they're going to claim it on their insurance. We're not - it's causing us no end of confusion," he said. | "They will be here four days longer than they wanted to be. They're quite happy as they're going to claim it on their insurance. We're not - it's causing us no end of confusion," he said. |
| The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said consular staff spent Wednesday at the airport helping UK citizens, although it is not known exactly how many Britons have been affected by the incident. | The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said consular staff spent Wednesday at the airport helping UK citizens, although it is not known exactly how many Britons have been affected by the incident. |
| They and other foreign tourists are all understood to have been placed in accommodation by Thai authorities. | They and other foreign tourists are all understood to have been placed in accommodation by Thai authorities. |
| A Foreign Office spokesman advised British travellers to stay in contact with their tour operator and airline for updates. | A Foreign Office spokesman advised British travellers to stay in contact with their tour operator and airline for updates. |
| 'Resolve differences' | 'Resolve differences' |
| A spokeswoman for the British travel association, Abta, said some tour operators were finding their customers alternative flights home from regional airports while others were advising them to stay in their hotels. | A spokeswoman for the British travel association, Abta, said some tour operators were finding their customers alternative flights home from regional airports while others were advising them to stay in their hotels. |
| She said people who were due to travel out to Thailand on Thursday or Friday would most likely be offered an alternative destination or a refund by their operators. | She said people who were due to travel out to Thailand on Thursday or Friday would most likely be offered an alternative destination or a refund by their operators. |
| Some long-haul flights, due to stop over in Bangkok, have been diverted to Singapore. | Some long-haul flights, due to stop over in Bangkok, have been diverted to Singapore. |
| British Airways is advising its passengers to expect flight changes at short notice. | British Airways is advising its passengers to expect flight changes at short notice. |
| Thai Airways said all flights to and from both airports would not be running. | Thai Airways said all flights to and from both airports would not be running. |
| Foreign Office minister Bill Rammell has urged all sides in this political dispute to "resolve their differences peacefully and legally, respecting Thailand's democratic institutions". | Foreign Office minister Bill Rammell has urged all sides in this political dispute to "resolve their differences peacefully and legally, respecting Thailand's democratic institutions". |
| He said: "Thailand is an important destination for British tourists and investors. The consular team at our embassy is offering assistance to British nationals affected, and liaising with the airlines." | He said: "Thailand is an important destination for British tourists and investors. The consular team at our embassy is offering assistance to British nationals affected, and liaising with the airlines." |