CRISIS IN BANGKOK: Etihad lays on relief flight
Etihad Airways will lay on a special relief flight to Abu Dhabi from Thailand to help passengers stranded in Bangkok.
The airline is to use U-Taphao airport, 150 kilometres east of Bangkok will fly in special ground handling personnel and airport staff to assist with the operation.
The UAE carrier has secured rights to operate from U-Taphao following the closure of the major international airports in Bangkok due to civil unrest.
The flight will be operated by a Boeing 777 which can carry 378 passengers.
The airline suspended its double daily service to Suvarnabhumi airport following its closure on Wednesday evening. Services will be resumed when the airport reopens.
Captain Richard Hill, executive vice president operations, said: “Our staff in Thailand and Abu Dhabi have been working around the clock to finalise the plans to assist those passengers who have been stranded in Thailand since Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok closed on Wednesday night.
“We are monitoring the situation closely and currently working with both the UAE and Thai authorities on plans for additional relief flights to secure the safe departure of passengers from Thailand.â€
Etihad flight EY408 departs Abu Dhabi airport today (Friday) at 1400 local time (1000 GMT, 1700 Thailand time) to arrive at U-Taphao airport in Thailand at 0100 local time (2200 Abu Dhabi time,1800 GMT).
The return flight EY401 will depart U-Taphao airport at 0500 local time (0200 Abu Dhabi time, 2200 GMT) and arrive in Abu Dhabi on Saturday at 0900 local time (1200 Thailand time, 0500 GMT).
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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