The Olympic Airlines Airbus, sent to bring back to Athens a total of 150 Greek tourists, has landed in Phuket with 3 diplomatic corps officials and a doctor.
Olympic Airlines Airbus has landed in Phuket (Athens, 27 December 2004 )(14:45 UTC+2)
Change of aircraft type for flights Phuket-Bangkok:
TG218 departed Phuket at 1845 h and arrived in Bangkok at 2020 h, a larger aircraft type was used: B777-300 - 388 seats (49C & 339Y).
TG216 departed Phuket at 2135 h and arrived in Bangkok at 2300 h, using this time a B747-400 - 389 seats, (64C & 326Y).
Special flights Phuket-Bangkok for to transport passengers and injured: TG SOS1 departed Phuket at 1915 h and arrived in Bangkok at 2035 h; that was a B777-200 Full Y, 358 seats.
TG SOS2 departs Phuket at 0120 hours and arrives in Bangkok at 0240 h, this one is a 747-400 Full Y, 389 seats.
Aviation in the tsunami disaster area
Moderator: Latest news team
SriLankan airlines said that flights to the Maldives had been suspended until further notice as the Male international airport had been shut.
Production of natural gas off the Gulf of Thailand has not been affected by the natural disasters.
Gas pipelines, owned by PTT Plc and Unocal Thailand, have not been affected by Sunday's earthquake. Pipelines, both offshore and onshore, and the platforms operated by private oil companies are designed to withstand earthquakes.
In Thailand, the government offered free flights for thousands of foreign tourists desperate to leave the southern areas ravaged by the tsunami. Hundreds of rescue ships, helicopters and planes were mobilised to evacuate tourists from wrecked resorts and airlift stricken victims to hospitals already overflowing with the injured and corpses.
Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways both announced Tuesday that they were providing free air transport to doctors and nurses heading for the affected areas in order to join in the relief efforts there.
Bangkok Airways said it was helping in the evacuation of seriously injured tourists who needed treatment in Bangkok hospitals. The airline added that it has also scheduled late-night flights from Bangkok to Phuket.
Production of natural gas off the Gulf of Thailand has not been affected by the natural disasters.
Gas pipelines, owned by PTT Plc and Unocal Thailand, have not been affected by Sunday's earthquake. Pipelines, both offshore and onshore, and the platforms operated by private oil companies are designed to withstand earthquakes.
In Thailand, the government offered free flights for thousands of foreign tourists desperate to leave the southern areas ravaged by the tsunami. Hundreds of rescue ships, helicopters and planes were mobilised to evacuate tourists from wrecked resorts and airlift stricken victims to hospitals already overflowing with the injured and corpses.
Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways both announced Tuesday that they were providing free air transport to doctors and nurses heading for the affected areas in order to join in the relief efforts there.
Bangkok Airways said it was helping in the evacuation of seriously injured tourists who needed treatment in Bangkok hospitals. The airline added that it has also scheduled late-night flights from Bangkok to Phuket.
Last edited by SN30952 on 28 Dec 2004, 13:13, edited 2 times in total.
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India has lost an air force base and 150 of its service personnel and members of their families to the tsunami tidal waves that hit the shores of the Car Nicobar island in the Bay of Bengal on Sunday.
http://autofeed.msn.co.in/pandorav3/out ... 74e5a.aspx
http://autofeed.msn.co.in/pandorav3/out ... 74e5a.aspx
Aum Sweet Aum.
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Useful numbers
People who have lost papers can call. Also family members could find this useful, for joining members in hospitals or for arraging re-partriation of deceased members.
International code (66)
For speedy thai immigration process:
07 627 3213,
07 621 3079
For travel documents to the disaster victims:
07 621 1195,
07 632 7230,
07 32-7194
International code (66)
For speedy thai immigration process:
07 627 3213,
07 621 3079
For travel documents to the disaster victims:
07 621 1195,
07 632 7230,
07 32-7194
Estimated loss for thai tourism industry at Bt30 billion.
About 1.2 million foreign tourists* are likely to cancel their trips to Thailand after one of the country’s worst natural disaster.
A quick calculation: 1.2 million devided by the average aircraft capacity of 200 seats equals to 6000 flights in and 6000 flights out. And that's for Thailand only.
Add to these flights, Sri Lanka, Southern India (Goa, Chennai), Malaysia (Penang) etc flights and this will add up easily to 10.000 flights each way.
Considering this over a period of 12 months, this equals to the grounding of 60 widebody aircraft.
Unless the tour operators find alternative long haul destinations, the European tourism is going to see a boom in the coming 12 months, adding some 2.000.000 extra passengers, who usually spend about 1000Euro and more, on its short haul network. Resulting in an increase of the price of these holiday packages and the resorption of some of the aircraft capacity lost on the SE Asian run.
Phuket alone normally receives about 1.5 million tourists during the four months of the peak holiday season from November to February. 10 hotels and resorts in the Patong area of Phuket have been hardest hit. Phang Nga has almost had its tourism industry completely wiped out, with 70 to 80 hotels and resorts reporting serious damage. About 10 hotels and resorts in Krabi and Ao Nang are damaged, as are about 50 resorts on Phi Phi Island. More than 200 beach hotels and resorts, with 3,000 rooms, located on the most popular beaches – particularly Patong, Kata and Karon – have been heavily damaged and cannot open.
And I fear there is no hurry to re-open soon, as not much clients will show up.
("Hoe zoudt ge zelf zijn", Kamiel Spiessens - How would you be, by famous Flemish philospher Kamiel Spiessens)
*according to the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA).
A quick calculation: 1.2 million devided by the average aircraft capacity of 200 seats equals to 6000 flights in and 6000 flights out. And that's for Thailand only.
Add to these flights, Sri Lanka, Southern India (Goa, Chennai), Malaysia (Penang) etc flights and this will add up easily to 10.000 flights each way.
Considering this over a period of 12 months, this equals to the grounding of 60 widebody aircraft.
Unless the tour operators find alternative long haul destinations, the European tourism is going to see a boom in the coming 12 months, adding some 2.000.000 extra passengers, who usually spend about 1000Euro and more, on its short haul network. Resulting in an increase of the price of these holiday packages and the resorption of some of the aircraft capacity lost on the SE Asian run.
Phuket alone normally receives about 1.5 million tourists during the four months of the peak holiday season from November to February. 10 hotels and resorts in the Patong area of Phuket have been hardest hit. Phang Nga has almost had its tourism industry completely wiped out, with 70 to 80 hotels and resorts reporting serious damage. About 10 hotels and resorts in Krabi and Ao Nang are damaged, as are about 50 resorts on Phi Phi Island. More than 200 beach hotels and resorts, with 3,000 rooms, located on the most popular beaches – particularly Patong, Kata and Karon – have been heavily damaged and cannot open.
And I fear there is no hurry to re-open soon, as not much clients will show up.
("Hoe zoudt ge zelf zijn", Kamiel Spiessens - How would you be, by famous Flemish philospher Kamiel Spiessens)
*according to the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA).
Thai Airways International, Nok Air, Orient Thai and Phuket Air will provide special flights to transport the tourists from Phuket, Krabi and Hat Yai to Bangkok.
“All expenses involved will be shouldered by the [tourism] ministry”
Some hotels in Bangkok such as SC Park have allocated 40 free rooms for stranded overseas tourists.
Rama Garden is offering 75 per cent discounts off its normal rates through until Thursday. The rate includes breakfast.
At least 1,000 rooms were needed for tourists at the moment.
“All expenses involved will be shouldered by the [tourism] ministry”
Some hotels in Bangkok such as SC Park have allocated 40 free rooms for stranded overseas tourists.
Rama Garden is offering 75 per cent discounts off its normal rates through until Thursday. The rate includes breakfast.
At least 1,000 rooms were needed for tourists at the moment.
Thai Belgium has just given this information to the travel trade:
Dear Agent,
Referring to the tragic tidal wave disaster in South East Asia, please kindly be informed of our measures for tickets booked to HKT (Phuket) / KBV (Krabi):
1) Passengers booked to HKT or KBV with departure till 15JAN05 can postpone within the validity of their ticket regardless of the restrictions and booking class on the ticket without any fee. Also total cancellation of ticket is authorised without fee. Please kindly include in refund notice "Tickets cancelled without fee due to tidal waves South Thailand".
2) Passengers booked to HKT or KBV ONLY with departure till 31JAN05 can also reroute their ticket to any other TG domestic destination in Thailand or outside Thailand namely to DPS, RGN, VTE, LPQ, HAN, SGN, SIN, HKG, KUL without any additional cost. Please kindly make new booking in same bookingclass as original ticket and mention in restriction box "reroute of ticket without ADC due to tidal waves South-Thailand"
3) Passengers already in Southern Thailand (HKT or KBV) wanting to return earlier can change their return flight regardless of the restrictions on the ticket without any fee. Please kindly contact our reservation department for sending telex to concerned stations in case the passengers are holding a ticket in a booking class which normally cannot be changed.
Rebooking always has to be done in the same booking classes as the original ticket.
The tidal waves concern only the islands in South-Thailand, which means there is no damage in other parts of Thailand and therefore the rerouting policy only concerns for tickets to HKT/KBV with longhaul flights on TG.
For any further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our reservations department TEL 02/502 47 44 – FAX 02/502 69 47
Best regards,
Thai Airways International
Dear Agent,
Referring to the tragic tidal wave disaster in South East Asia, please kindly be informed of our measures for tickets booked to HKT (Phuket) / KBV (Krabi):
1) Passengers booked to HKT or KBV with departure till 15JAN05 can postpone within the validity of their ticket regardless of the restrictions and booking class on the ticket without any fee. Also total cancellation of ticket is authorised without fee. Please kindly include in refund notice "Tickets cancelled without fee due to tidal waves South Thailand".
2) Passengers booked to HKT or KBV ONLY with departure till 31JAN05 can also reroute their ticket to any other TG domestic destination in Thailand or outside Thailand namely to DPS, RGN, VTE, LPQ, HAN, SGN, SIN, HKG, KUL without any additional cost. Please kindly make new booking in same bookingclass as original ticket and mention in restriction box "reroute of ticket without ADC due to tidal waves South-Thailand"
3) Passengers already in Southern Thailand (HKT or KBV) wanting to return earlier can change their return flight regardless of the restrictions on the ticket without any fee. Please kindly contact our reservation department for sending telex to concerned stations in case the passengers are holding a ticket in a booking class which normally cannot be changed.
Rebooking always has to be done in the same booking classes as the original ticket.
The tidal waves concern only the islands in South-Thailand, which means there is no damage in other parts of Thailand and therefore the rerouting policy only concerns for tickets to HKT/KBV with longhaul flights on TG.
For any further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our reservations department TEL 02/502 47 44 – FAX 02/502 69 47
Best regards,
Thai Airways International
Qatar Airways and some hotels joined forces
Qatar Airways, The Ritz-Carlton Doha and the Four Seasons Doha have joined forces for a humanitarian relief effort.
A special Qatar Airways charter aircraft flew to the Maldives in the Indian Ocean Monday morning to pick up stranded guests of the Four Seasons Hotel Maldives before returning to Doha the same evening.
The Airbus A330-200 aircraft carrying 130 passengers touched down at Doha International Airport shortly after 8pm.
All passengers have been accommodated at The Ritz-Carlton Doha, where 130 deluxe rooms have been set aside for them. The Ritz-Carlton Doha has offered accommodation for two nights and has dedicated a hospitality area with a specially-set up Internet café.
Qatar Airways has also set up a temporary reservation office at the Ritz.
A special Qatar Airways charter aircraft flew to the Maldives in the Indian Ocean Monday morning to pick up stranded guests of the Four Seasons Hotel Maldives before returning to Doha the same evening.
The Airbus A330-200 aircraft carrying 130 passengers touched down at Doha International Airport shortly after 8pm.
All passengers have been accommodated at The Ritz-Carlton Doha, where 130 deluxe rooms have been set aside for them. The Ritz-Carlton Doha has offered accommodation for two nights and has dedicated a hospitality area with a specially-set up Internet café.
Qatar Airways has also set up a temporary reservation office at the Ritz.
generosity
"We have never seen so much money come in such a short period."
- Danish Red Cross
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/interna ... oref=login
- Danish Red Cross
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/interna ... oref=login
Sommige reizigers klaagden over de slechte organisatie van de tour operators. ,,Ik ben niet te spreken over het onthaal in het crisiscentrum ter plaatse en zeker niet over het feit dat de reisorganisatie hier nu vanavond doet alsof ze alles doet om de Belgische reizigers te helpen", verklaarde een reiziger.
Some Belgian tourists had complains about the bad organisation of the touroperators on site: I'am not at all satisfied about the way we were taken care of in the crisis center of Phuket, and particularly not now the touroperators pretend to do all and everything to help the Belgian passengers tonight (upon arrival), said a passenger arriving in Brussels.
As this was aimed at the touroperators, its not clear which one or all: Besttours, Thomas Cook or Neckermann.
Seems they will loose some business too...
Some Belgian tourists had complains about the bad organisation of the touroperators on site: I'am not at all satisfied about the way we were taken care of in the crisis center of Phuket, and particularly not now the touroperators pretend to do all and everything to help the Belgian passengers tonight (upon arrival), said a passenger arriving in Brussels.
As this was aimed at the touroperators, its not clear which one or all: Besttours, Thomas Cook or Neckermann.
Seems they will loose some business too...
Thomas Cook and Neckermann are the same. TUI/Jetair has little business in the area. Best Tours is the dominant Belgian operator in Asia, followed by Thomas Cook/Neckermann.SN30952 wrote:As this was aimed at the touroperators, its not clear which one or all: Besttours, Thomas Cook or Neckermann.
André
ex Sabena #26567
ex Sabena #26567
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Relif efforts are underway and going on.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayArti ... er1043.xml
Relif efforts are underway and going on.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayArti ... er1043.xml
Aum Sweet Aum.
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Jet Airways helps over 1300 people to be evacuated from Andaman.
Jet Airways helps over 1300 people to be evacuated from Andaman.
Aum Sweet Aum.
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Emirates Airline
Emirates Airline is providing humanitarian relief and aid to the survivors of the catastrophic tsunamis in South Asia.
The first 100 tents of a shipment of 1000 donated by a local Sri Lankan benefactor have already been dispatched by Emirates SkyCargo from Dubai to Colombo, as well as five tonnes of foodstuffs from Dubai to the Maldives.
To Colombo:
* Food, medicines and clothes totalling 10 tonnes from the Emirates Group, and the remaining 900 tents of the charitable shipment mentioned above, will be sent on Emirates’ regular flights.
* Relief vehicles and 4000 tents from the Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Society in Dubai – a total of 200 tonnes to be carried in two Boeing 747-200 freighters.
* Relief and medical supplies will be transported free of cost from Gothenburg to Colombo, commissioned by the Sri Lankan embassy in Sweden.
To Male (Maldives):
* Emirates has procured 30 tonnes of bottled water and secured the entire cargo hold of a flight to Male.
* One hundred and eighty-three cartons of clothing and blankets, amounting to 2.5 tonnes of relief goods, from Airport Fire Services at Manchester will be transported free of cost.
To Jakarta: 35 tonnes of tarpaulins from Unicef, Dubai
To Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo and Delhi: a combined total of 90 tonnes of relief goods from the Iranian Red Crescent Society in Tehran.
To Madras: Relief supplies from Paris sent by MEDICOR – a French Doctor's Association.
Emirates SkyCargo is working closely with SriLankan Airlines to facilitate quick transport, provide cargo space and coordinate relief activities. Emirates also is co-sponsoring the Airport Emergency team based in Dubai, part of the Disaster Resource Network, a non-profit consortium of blue-chip companies that offers humanitarian aid during such disasters. Eight staff members from the Emirates Group are to travel to Colombo to coordinate and support these relief efforts.
The first 100 tents of a shipment of 1000 donated by a local Sri Lankan benefactor have already been dispatched by Emirates SkyCargo from Dubai to Colombo, as well as five tonnes of foodstuffs from Dubai to the Maldives.
To Colombo:
* Food, medicines and clothes totalling 10 tonnes from the Emirates Group, and the remaining 900 tents of the charitable shipment mentioned above, will be sent on Emirates’ regular flights.
* Relief vehicles and 4000 tents from the Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Society in Dubai – a total of 200 tonnes to be carried in two Boeing 747-200 freighters.
* Relief and medical supplies will be transported free of cost from Gothenburg to Colombo, commissioned by the Sri Lankan embassy in Sweden.
To Male (Maldives):
* Emirates has procured 30 tonnes of bottled water and secured the entire cargo hold of a flight to Male.
* One hundred and eighty-three cartons of clothing and blankets, amounting to 2.5 tonnes of relief goods, from Airport Fire Services at Manchester will be transported free of cost.
To Jakarta: 35 tonnes of tarpaulins from Unicef, Dubai
To Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo and Delhi: a combined total of 90 tonnes of relief goods from the Iranian Red Crescent Society in Tehran.
To Madras: Relief supplies from Paris sent by MEDICOR – a French Doctor's Association.
Emirates SkyCargo is working closely with SriLankan Airlines to facilitate quick transport, provide cargo space and coordinate relief activities. Emirates also is co-sponsoring the Airport Emergency team based in Dubai, part of the Disaster Resource Network, a non-profit consortium of blue-chip companies that offers humanitarian aid during such disasters. Eight staff members from the Emirates Group are to travel to Colombo to coordinate and support these relief efforts.
SAS
Starting today, the 29th of December, SAS has opened an airlift between Scandinavia and Thailand to bring home travelers.
From now until New Year 's Day, thirteen extra flights will take place. Of these, four will go to Oslo, six to Arlanda and three to Copenhagen.
The flights will go to both Bangkok and Phuket. Boeing 737-800 and Airbus 330/340 aircraft will be used. The first two planes left Arlanda before lunchtime Wednesday.
Lars Lindgren, head of Scandinavian Airlines International who is responsible for SAS intercontinental traffic: "Together with the existing capacity from the scheduled daily departures from Bangkok in the following days, we count on being able to bring home around 3500 passengers."
From now until New Year 's Day, thirteen extra flights will take place. Of these, four will go to Oslo, six to Arlanda and three to Copenhagen.
The flights will go to both Bangkok and Phuket. Boeing 737-800 and Airbus 330/340 aircraft will be used. The first two planes left Arlanda before lunchtime Wednesday.
Lars Lindgren, head of Scandinavian Airlines International who is responsible for SAS intercontinental traffic: "Together with the existing capacity from the scheduled daily departures from Bangkok in the following days, we count on being able to bring home around 3500 passengers."