BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese emergency
chartered flights are expected to fly back home almost all the more than 3,000
mainland tourists stuck in riot-hit Thailand by Dec. 1.
A China Eastern Airbus-300 arrives at
the Utapao Airport near Pattaya, about 150 km east of Bangkok, capital of
Thailand, Nov. 29, 2008. Chinese aviation authorities were sending 5
planes on Saturday to Thailand to bring home the remaining stranded
Chinese tourists after the closure of the Suvarnabhumi International
Airport in Bangkok. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
Four Chinese mainland carriers have sent nine planes
to retrieve the tourists after Bangkok's international airport closed because of
a protest.
Some 2,000 tourists had returned back home by noon,
and another more than 800 would fly back late Sunday night or early Monday
morning, according to the airlines.
China Southern Airlines, the nation's largest carrier
by fleet size, said late Sunday night it will sent another plane to take back
the remaining tourists on Monday.
Around 246 passengers landed in Shanghai at 2:00 a.m.
on Sunday. This was the first return flight from Thailand, though delayed for
several hours because of unstable situation at the airport.
BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The first Chinese flight
bringing home stranded Chinese tourists after the closure of Thailand's main
international airport in Bangkok, arrived at eastern Shanghai before dawn on
Sunday.
Aboard the China Eastern MU Flight 548 were 246 of less
than 3,000 Chinese tourists believed being trapped in Thailand. The plane which
left the Shanghai Pudong International Airport at noon Saturday, returned to the
airport at 2:15 on Sunday. Full story
BANGKOK, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi
International Airport was paralyzed on Wednesday, with most flights canceled for
the day, after protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)
expanded their besiege on state agencies to the airport on Tuesday evening in a
showdown to topplethe government led by premier Somchai Wongsawat.
The escalated political confrontation is expected to
cause more loss to the country's image and tourism industry. Full story
BANGKOK, Nov.
26 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of chanting protesters wearing yellow T-shirts and
waving national flags have demonstrated on two consecutive days in what they say
is an effort to topple the Thai government.
Analysts say it would be no easy job to end the
years-long political turmoil that has been marked by accusations and unceasing
protests and that the turbulence will cause Thailand's economy additional
disturbances. Full story
