‘All airports in Bangkok operational’, says tourism authority of Thailand after earthquake devastation, BA

Airlines and travel agencies were flooded with calls from Indians who are booked to travel to Thailand on Friday, after a powerful earthquake struck the country and Myanmar. Travel companies did not comment till Friday evening whether they had started getting cancellations. “It’s too early, but we are sure getting a lot of calls,” said an official of a leading airline.

In a statement, IndiGo said: “In light of the recent earthquake in Southeast Asia, IndiGo would like to reassure its customers that all flights to and from Thailand (Bangkok, Krabi, Phuket) are operating as scheduled. We understand that some of our customers may have faced difficulties reaching the airport due to this situation. To support those affected, we are accommodating them on the next available flight. We remain committed to assisting our customers during this time.” Flights of Air India were also operating.

Thai LCC Nok Air, which flies to Mumbai & Hyderabad, said in an email: “ Some flights are currently delayed due to airport safety inspections. Nok Air advises passengers to closely follow travel updates from the airline and relevant authorities. Passengers scheduled to travel (Friday) should check for updates on their flights. All Nok Air serving airports have resumed normal operations for incoming and outgoing flights.”

In a social media post, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said on Friday hours after the quake: “All airports in Bangkok remain operational. No reported disruptions to flight operations at this time…. Rail services between Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station and Rangsit may face delays due to structural inspections on elevated tracks. Safety checks are ongoing…. MRT Blue and Purple Lines are temporarily suspended…. BTS Skytrain is also temporarily suspended due to emergency protocols…. Travellers are advised to monitor updates from – SRT official website; BEM – Bangkok Expressway and Metro and BTS SkyTrain.”

With first its visa on arrival and then the visa free policy, Thailand has emerged as one of the biggest destinations for Indian tourists. In CY 2024, a record over 20 lakh Indians visited the country.