Phuket Air saga drags on …
The Phuket Air saga continues to drag on with reports that a replacement plane sent to pick up more than 100 stranded passengers has broken down. As reported, passengers refused to board a Boeing 747-200 at Sharjaj airport after they claimed to have spotted fuel pouring from a wing of the aircraft. Most of the passengers later agreed to board the original plane but, according to The Daily Telegraph, more than 100 still refused despite assurances from the carrier that the airliner was safe. But, the newspaper reports, when the replacement aircraft turned up at Sharjah, it was found to be “dangerously low on fluid for its hydraulic systems”. Meanwhile the carrier risks courting further controversy, having already threatened to sue the passengers who refused to board the plane, by stating that there will be no compensation for travellers – and even suggesting that alcohol may have been to blame for the incident. Gordon MacFarland, sales manager, is quoted as saying: “I have been informed by one passenger that the delay to the original flight was caused by a group of typical drunken Brits. About 100 people opted to stay on in Sharjah for another night by their own choice. “We will not be compensating them because there was no technical problem with the aircraft. People were fed and watered in Sharjah. We feel that is compensation enough for the panic and aggravation caused.” However, the Telegraph quotes one passenger as saying that passengers had been left without food or drink for 10 hours, adding that the airline had told travellers “something different every 20 minutes”. The final passengers were due to arrive at Gatwick last night, some 60 hours late. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd www.newsfromabroad.com
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025