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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Bangkok airport resumes operation | Bangkok airport resumes operation |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Thailand's main international airport has officially resumed full operations after an eight-day occupation by anti-government protesters. | Thailand's main international airport has officially resumed full operations after an eight-day occupation by anti-government protesters. |
| Most airlines are now operating a normal service, but thousands of passengers still face long delays as the backlog is cleared. | Most airlines are now operating a normal service, but thousands of passengers still face long delays as the backlog is cleared. |
| The protest ended when a court banned Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from politics and dissolved his party. | The protest ended when a court banned Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from politics and dissolved his party. |
| Meanwhile Thais are celebrating the 81st birthday of their revered king. | Meanwhile Thais are celebrating the 81st birthday of their revered king. |
| Bangkok's streets are decorated with buntings, flags and portraits of the royal family, and Friday has been declared a public holiday. | Bangkok's streets are decorated with buntings, flags and portraits of the royal family, and Friday has been declared a public holiday. |
| But in an unexpected move, King Bhumibol Adulyadej did not give his traditional pre-birthday speech to the nation on Thursday. | |
| Crown Prince Varjiralongkorn went on the radio instead to say his father was a "little sick". | Crown Prince Varjiralongkorn went on the radio instead to say his father was a "little sick". |
| Thais had been looking forward to hearing from their much-loved monarch, who has long been looked to for guidance in times of turmoil. | Thais had been looking forward to hearing from their much-loved monarch, who has long been looked to for guidance in times of turmoil. |
| 'Smooth resumption' | 'Smooth resumption' |
| The most recent focus of that turmoil was the takeover of two airports outside Bangkok. | The most recent focus of that turmoil was the takeover of two airports outside Bangkok. |
| The protesters - from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) - camped there for more than a week to force the prime minister to resign, stranding thousands of travellers as all air traffic was stopped. | The protesters - from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) - camped there for more than a week to force the prime minister to resign, stranding thousands of travellers as all air traffic was stopped. |
| After the Constitutional Court ruling to bar Mr Somchai from politics, and dissolve his party, they finally agreed to leave. | After the Constitutional Court ruling to bar Mr Somchai from politics, and dissolve his party, they finally agreed to leave. |
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| Passengers wait for flights at Thailand's main airport | Passengers wait for flights at Thailand's main airport |
| Flights have been leaving the main Suvarnabhumi airport since Wednesday, but Friday was the first day of normal service. | Flights have been leaving the main Suvarnabhumi airport since Wednesday, but Friday was the first day of normal service. |
| class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7766900.stm">In pictures: King's birthday "Suvarnabhumi has officially resumed operations. All of the staff here are so happy to return to work," an Airports of Thailand spokeswoman said. | |
| "Thai Airways TG971 bound for Moscow officially marked the full and smooth resumption of the airport." | "Thai Airways TG971 bound for Moscow officially marked the full and smooth resumption of the airport." |
| There were puppet shows and dance performances to inject an air of celebration, says the BBC's John Sudworth in Bangkok. | There were puppet shows and dance performances to inject an air of celebration, says the BBC's John Sudworth in Bangkok. |
| However, hundreds of passengers are still facing uncertainty about when they can return home as not all airlines are operating a full service. | However, hundreds of passengers are still facing uncertainty about when they can return home as not all airlines are operating a full service. |
| There are still a large number of cancelled flights and those that have been scheduled are very overbooked. | There are still a large number of cancelled flights and those that have been scheduled are very overbooked. |
| Some passengers are being told that it may take as much as another week before they can be guaranteed a seat. | Some passengers are being told that it may take as much as another week before they can be guaranteed a seat. |
| While the situation for stranded passengers is gradually being resolved, the crisis behind it is far from over. | While the situation for stranded passengers is gradually being resolved, the crisis behind it is far from over. |
| Thailand is currently leaderless, with no date set for the nomination of a new prime minister. | Thailand is currently leaderless, with no date set for the nomination of a new prime minister. |
| Are you still waiting for a flight home? Tell us about your experiences and delays in Bangkok using the form below: | Are you still waiting for a flight home? Tell us about your experiences and delays in Bangkok using the form below: |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |