1 Sep 2008

Phuket airport reopens following protests

5:20 pm on 1 September 2008

Flights to the holiday island of Phuket in Thailand resumed on Sunday, two days after anti-government protesters forced the airport to close and stranded thousands of foreign tourists.

An airport official says a Thai Airways flight landed at Phuket airport at around 3:40 pm (0840 GMT), the official told Reuters.

Phuket is Thailand's second-busiest airport. It was closed on Friday afternoon after 5,000 protesters set up a blockade and marched down the tarmac, forcing the suspension of flights to and from the island.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises advises tourists to show a "high degree of caution" in Thailand, stay away from political rallies or "concentrations of military personnel", and follow any instructions issued by local authorities.