Stranded tourists in Thailand strain old naval air base

Several major Asian carriers announced special flights to pick up stranded passengers and crew from U-Tapao, near the tourist town of Pattaya, or other Thai airports.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific said it would operate two flights on Friday and Saturday.

South Korea's Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines began sending flights on Thursday to carry up to 1,100 passengers.

Malaysian Airline has also put on flights, while a decision was expected soon on whether Kuala Lumpur would also send a military flight to pick up stranded passengers.

Taiwan's Eva Airways said it would put on two round trips to U-Tapao on Friday and Saturday.

China Airlines, put on a flight from Taipei to the northern city of Chiang Mai on Friday and will use a large plane for its Taipei-Chiang Mai flight on Saturday.

Manila's second largest carrier, Cebu Pacific Air, said it had cancelled all its flights to Bangkok until next Wednesday. Philippines Airlines also stopped flights but said it would review its decision daily.

The airport invasions have angered Thai tour operators and airlines as both domestic and foreign tourists cancel trips, threatening big financial losses and tarnishing Thailand's image.

But Australian golfer Ian Gonsal shrugged off the chaos.

"I'm sure Thailand will get through it," he said. "Of course I'll be back. See you next year." (Additional reporting by Jalil Hamid in Kuala Lumpur, Ralph Jennings in Taipei, Edwin Chan in Hong Kong, and Manny Mogato in Manila; Writing by Darren Schuettler and Paul Tait; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)

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