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Bangkok International Airport Still Protest Central

These People's Alliance for Democracy protesters don't quit! Almost a full week after seizing control of both airports in Bangkok, the PAD is still occupying Suvarnabhumi and no commercial flights are arriving or departing, though some empty planes are being moved to other airports in the region.

The tourism minister of Thailand says the PAD's actions have stranded 240,000 tourists, though as an employee of the current government, we're a little dubious of the accuracy of that figure. Still, there's no denying that several thousand holidaymakers have been inconvenienced by the airport closure. PAD is handing out water as a PR gesture, but most of the reports from BKK we've seen show passengers more interested in getting the hell out of Thailand than hydrating.

Even if protesters clear out of Suvarnabhumi today--and that doesn't seem likely, does it?--it'll be at least another week before it's back in business, the director of the Airports Authority of Thailand has said. In the meantime, regional hubs Changi Airport in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur International in Malaysia are open as usual. If you can get the change fee on your ticket waived because of possibly-coup-inciting protests, let us know!

Related Stories:
· 240,000 Tourists Stranded in Thailand [The Nation]
· Thai Protesters to Focus on Airports [NYT]
· Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport Still Shuttered [Jaunted]