Flight cancellations: Singapore airlines to cancel 19 flights to Bangkok: The cancellations are expected to be in force for over one month, from January 14 to February 25, and are reportedly due to lower demand.
The decision to cancel the flights is believed to be the result of the current political chaos that has gripped the Thai capital, according to reports.
Singapore Airlines said it has informed the affected customers, and that they will either be given refunds or be put on other flights.
Travel agencies are also reportedly seeing fewer travellers to Bangkok.
Chan Brother said they saw a 20 per cent drop in customers for the Bangkok route last month, as compared to the same period last year.
But they are still receiving bookings from many travellers who are adopting a wait-and-see approach, say reports.
Jane Chang, the manager of Marketing and Communications at Chan Brothers, said: “We have close to 100 travellers who will be departing for Bangkok during the Chinese New Year week despite the protests and all.
“Enquiries that will come in from our travellers are whether or not it’s safe to travel to Bangkok. And what we inform (them) is that we’re monitoring the situation as it is, because it’s hard to tell what’s going to happen during Chinese New Year right now,” she said.
Singapore airlines normally has five flights daily to Bangkok.
Airports of Thailand executives called an urgent meeting on Sunday following reports of the Singapore Airlines cancellations, to discuss the impact of the anti-government protests.
The protesters are calling for a “Bangkok shutdown” beginning on January 13, in an effort to oust the current Pheu Thai-led government of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The anti-government protests have been ongoing for over two months.
Over 50 countries have issued travel advisories to their citizens not to go near the demonstration sites.
The Tourism Council of Thailand said the number of visitors from Thailand’s two biggest markets, China and Russia, has dropped by 25-30 per cent, mainly in Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin, and Cha-am, reported the Thai News Agency.
Many in Thailand have voiced concern over the economic impact of the protests, including the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Thai Industries.
