Update on Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and travel situation in Thailand (26 Nov 2008, 10am Bangkok time)

Dear Partners,

Bangkok – 26 November 2008: 10:00am

We are writing to inform you that the main Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport has had to close today due to political protests in Bangkok targeting the airport.

All flights out of Thailand from Suvarnabhumi Airport are temporarily suspended. However, many domestic flights have been diverted to Don Muang Airport which remains open. We remain hopeful that Suvarnabhumi will reopen later today.

Arrivals

There are still some flights arriving at Suvarnabhumi and also at Don Muang Airport. Our operations team have been working since yesterday evening and through the night to ensure that all clients arriving in Thailand are met safely and transferred to their hotels.

Departures and Onward Domestic Travel

We have been in contact with all clients in-country to discuss and find solutions to their travel arrangements.

We are assisting all clients departing Thailand today to extend their stay until their flights are rescheduled.

We are doing our best to reroute all domestic travel plans that were using Suvarnabhumi Airport by either going through Don Muang Airport or by land transfers if necessary. We have been in contact with guides / clients to organise alternative travel arrangements and will continue doing so for the coming days. Exotissimo operations and guides will also provide maximum assistance to clients and to ensure they receive as much information as possible.

As we have offices in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai, we have staff on the ground throughout the country communicating with our clients. We reassure all clients in Thailand that they are safe and Exotissimo is here to give our clients as much assistance as they need.

Please rest assured that all clients are safe and that in the rest of Bangkok, daily life is as normal. These protests are highly targeted and are aimed at dislodging the current government. Last nights’ protests were mostly non-violent despite the news reports and protest leaders have announced they do not wish to harm anyone especially foreigners in Thailand.

The rest of Bangkok is peaceful and business is going on very much as usual away from the airport and government areas.

We will let you know as soon as we have more news.

Best regards,
Exotissimo Travel Team