CET = Central European Time Zone (Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm local time)
ICT = IndoChina Time Zone (Bangkok local time)
Update 30 November, 13:00 CET (19:00 ICT)
SAS has decided to not divert today's flight from Copenhagen to U-tapao as the airport has been stretched beyond its capacity.
SAS is working closely with the Thai Authorities to find an alternative solution to get customers out of Bangkok safely.
Consequently, the following flights are cancelled: SK973 from Copenhagen to Bangkok, 30 NovemberSK972 from Bangkok to Copenhagen, 02 December
Update 29 November, 12:00 CET (18:00 ICT)
SAS starts bringing customers back from Thailand
SAS Scandinavian Airlines will today divert its Stockholm to Bangkok flight to U-tapao, 150 kilometers, from Bangkok in order to start bringing stranded passengers home to Europe.
Tonight’s scheduled flight from Stockholm to Bangkok, SK975, will depart Stockholm as scheduled at 20:20 CET, but divert to U-tapao instead of the closed Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Stranded SAS passengers in Bangkok will be transported to U-tapao to depart on tomorrow’s return flight to Stockholm, SK976. SAS passengers in Bangkok will be informed of the new departure time from local staff in Bangkok. The flight is expected to arrive in Stockholm tomorrow evening.
“We are pleased to be able to start operating flights to and from Thailand in order to get our customers home,” says Lars Sandahl Sörensen, CEO, Scandinavian Airlines International. “We regret the inconvenience this has caused our passengers, and we have done everything possible to take the best care of those affected here in Bangkok.” Sandahl Sörensen is himself amongst the stranded passengers in Bangkok.
SAS in Bangkok is working closely with U-tapao’s airport to provide the best service for arriving and departing SAS passengers in regards to arrival and departure formalities. The Airbus A340-300 that will operate to U-tapao has 245 seats. Stranded passengers will depart on a first in, first out basis. This means that passengers who have been stranded the longest will be prioritized and be the first to leave Thailand.
If the situation at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport does not resolve in the next few days, SAS will continue to fly to U-tapao. SAS continuously monitors the situation.
SAS also has one aircraft at Suvarnabhumi Airport, which it aims to operate to Copenhagen as soon as the airport opens or aircraft can be released.
At this time, SAS will only transport passengers with end-destination Bangkok to U-tapao. Transferring passengers to destinations beyond Bangkok will be rerouted to other flights.
For SAS passengers in Thailand:Affected passengers in Bangkok may contact the SAS call center between 08:00 ICT and midnight at telephone number +66 2661 6111.
For SAS passengers in Europe:Affected passengers in Europe should contact their local SAS sales office.
SAS Flights to and from Copenhagen to Beijing
As a consequence of the situation in Bangkok, SAS flight SK995, 30 November from Copenhagen to Beijing will be cancelled and also SAS Flight SK996 from Beijing to Copenhagen on 01 December.
Update 29 November, 09:00 CET (15:00 ICT)
A new update will be published as soon as it becomes available.
Update 29 November, 03:00 CET (09:00 ICT)
SAS is continuing to monitor the situation and working on alternative solutions.At this time no confirmed news are available.
Update 28 November, 13:30 CET (19:30 ICT)
Bangkok Airport is still closed by the Thai Authorities.SAS is closely monitoring the situation and will as soon as possible restart operations to and from Bangkok.
SAS regrets to confirm that the following flights have been cancelled due to the closed airport.
SK973 from Copenhagen to Bangkok, 28 NovemberSK972 from Bangkok to Copenhagen, 30 November
For SAS passengers in Bangkok
SAS local call center for stranded passengers in Bangkok will remain open between 08:00 ICT and midnight at telephone number +66 2661 6111. For SAS passengers in Scandinavia
Passengers booked on affected flights from Scandinavia are handled according to EC regulations. SAS affected passengers in other countries may contact SAS locally.
Update 28 November, 10:00 CET (16.00 ICT)
Suvarnabhumi airport remains closed.
SAS is continuously in dialogue with the authorities to find solutions to the current situation.
At this point in time, we have no further updates.
Websites will be updated with latest info at 03:00 CET / 09:00 ICT tomorrow morning.
SAS local call center for stranded passengers in Bangkok will remain open between 08:00 ICT and midnight at telephone number +66 2661 6111.
For SAS passengers from Scandinavia
Passengers booked on affected flights from Scandinavia are handled according to EC regulations.
SAS affected passengers in other countries may contact SAS locally.
Update 28 November, 03:00 CET (09.00 ICT)
There is at this time no further information from the Thai Authorities.
SAS is constantly monitoring the situation.
Update 27 November, 13:00 CET (19.00 ICT)
Bangkok Airport is officially closed by the Thai Authorities until Saturday, 29 November. SAS is closely monitoring the situation and will as soon as possible restart operations to and from Bangkok.
SAS regrets to confirm that the following flights have been cancelled due to the closed airport.
SK973 from Copenhagen to Bangkok, 27 November
SK972 from Bangkok to Copenhagen, 29 November
SK975 from Stockholm/Arlanda to Bangkok, 27 November
SK976 from Bangkok to Stockholm/Arlanda, 28 November
Although this situation is beyond SAS’ control, SAS is doing its outmost to assist customers. Passengers stranded from effected SAS flights out of Bangkok will be provided with hotel accommodation in Bangkok.
Passengers in Bangkok booked on SAS cancelled flights can contact SAS on phone number + 66 2661 6111.
SAS effected passengers in other countries may contact SAS locally.
Passengers on cancelled flights can either rebook their flight to another SAS flight or receive refund for the ticket.
Scandinavian Airlines apologizes for the inconvenience this will cause our passengers.
Update 27 November, 07:00 CET (13:00 ICT)
Bangkok Airport is still closed and no re-opening time has yet been determined by the Thai Authorities. SAS is however persuing a departure as soon as the airport re-opens. A more detailed possible departure time, depending on the authorities, will be communicated to the passengers affected.
For SAS passengers in Thailand, information can be found on SAS hot-line in Bangkok +66 2661 6111.
For SAS passengers traveling to Thailand, please contact the respective SAS Sales & Services hotline.
Update 26 November, 08:00 CET (14:00 ICT)
As of yesterday, the international airport in Bangkok is blocked by anti government protesters. The airport authorities have decided to close down the airport and instructed passengers and staff to evacuate the terminal.
Around midnight SAS staff managed to get back in to the terminal building to assist 75 passengers not yet checked in. These passengers were instructed to leave the building and check in at a designated hotel. SAS is currently trying to contact affected passengers in the transit area.
SAS has cancelled operations to and from Bangkok international airport until further notice. SAS is closely monitoring the situation and following the advice and instructions from the Thai authorities.
SAS affected passengers in Thailand should contact SAS locally on a designated phone number +66 2661 6111.
Until further notice, we advise our customers to follow the instructions of the authorities.
It is important to notice that this situation is beyond the control of SAS and is considered force majeure. Despite this, SAS is doing its outmost to assist customers.
SAS will resume operation as soon as possible and after the authorities declare the airport back in operation.
In the meantime we recommend customers to monitor the situation in the media and follow authorities’ advice.
Update 25 November, 20:00 CET (02:00 ICT)
Thai authorities have closed Bangkok International Airport due to protests, and Scandinavian Airlines have unfortunately been forced to cancel two flights to and from Copenhagen today.
The affected flights are SK 972 from Bangkok 00:25 local time (18:25 CET) and SK 973 from Copenhagen to Bangkok tonight at 22:50 CET.
Passengers and crew on SK 972 have been put up in local hotels, awaiting further information.
Scandinavian Airlines apologizes for the inconvenience this causes to our passengers.
We recommend that customers keep up-to-date on our website, which will be kept updated on the situation. SAS customers are requested to call their local call-center or their travel agent regarding eventual re-bookings or refund of their tickets. Passengers who are affected by the cancellations, can either have their tickets refunded or re-booked to a later flight.
For customers stranded in Bangkok, Scandinavian Airlines recommend to follow the advice of the local authorities, as well as keeping up-to-date on the situation through the media and on flysas.com.
Source : http://www.flysas.com/
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