Thai Airways International (THAI) yesterday (November 27) operated a special flight from U-Tapao International Airport, to fly some stranded passengers to Singapore.

Senior executive vice president Panthit Chanabhai said that Airbus A330 left U-Tapao, about 190km east of Bangkok in Rayong province, at 6pm. THAI is responsible for the extra expenses as well as the expenses to fly passengers to their desired destinations from Changi Airport. It will also arrange more flights to take stranded passengers out of the country.

"About 10,000 passengers of THAI have been stranded here. The problem is most aircraft is parked at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang and we can't move them.

"This would certainly affect the number of THAI passengers in the future. In the first six months of next year, there would be no high season for THAI," he said.

ACM Narongsak Sangapong, acting president of THAI, said earlier that THAI has prepared two emergency measures, one of them is to resume operations at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports after the government issued the state of emergency at the two airports.

Narongsak said that if the situation in at the two facilities is prolonged, THAI would shift flights to U-Tapao which is the most convenient to passengers.

He said that THAI has sent a team of officers to U-Tapao to prepare for the operations both in refilling and ticketing.

THAI estimated that initial damage will be 500 million baht ($14.1 million) a day, but Narongsak said damage would escalate as the airline has to moved some equipment to U-Tapao. Some crew are also stranded overseas and require more expenses.

As of 6pm today (November 28), THAI has cancelled 176 domestic and international flights: 86 domestic and 90 international.

He said earlier that THAI is waiting for the Cabinet's resolution. Once the airports are reopened, THAI is ready to resume operations right away. But if the airports remain closed, it will go to U-Tapao.

Yesterday morning, THAI flied TG795 flight, from Los Angeles, to U-Tapao instead of Suvarnabhumi. It carried 126 passengers who were taken to the head office. Transit passengers were checked into Sofitel Centara.