Cathay Pacific to operate flights to Thailand for stranded passengers
28/11/2008 16:48
Hong Kong-based aviation giant Cathay Pacific announced in Hong Kong today
that it would operate flights in the coming two days to help stranded passengers
and crew due to the closure of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in
Bangkok.
"More flights may be mounted over the weekend if there is still a
need," Cathay Pacific said in a press release.
The Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HKSAR) government welcomed Cathay Pacific's move, but
still advised Hong Kong residents to avoid unnecessary travel to
Bangkok.
According to Cathay Pacific's plan, the first flight using Boeing
777-300 aircraft leaves Hong Kong at 10:00 am (0200 GMT) today and will fly to
pick up passengers from Utapao Airport near Pattaya, about two-hour drive from
Bangkok.
Cathay Pacific said priority for the first flight back to Hong Kong,
which would depart Utapao at 14:00 local time (0700 GMT), would be given to the
airline's operating crew and staff, and holders of the company's tickets from
Bangkok to Hong Kong, without additional charge for those ticket holders.
The
flight will also accept non-Cathay Pacific ticket holders if seats are
available, the company said, though they will be required to pay for their
tickets.
The company will also send another charter flight using a Boeing
777-300 aircraft tomorrow. It leaves Hong Kong at 08:00 (0000 GMT) tomorrow and
departs Utapao at noon local time.
Cathay Pacific said it will continue to be
in close liaison with the HKSAR government to offer assistance to hose affected
by the four-day closure of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in
Bangkok.
Hundreds of Hong Kong residents traveling to Thailand were stranded
in Bangkok due to the airport closure.
Xinhua
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