MFA Press Statement: Situation In Bangkok

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok continue to monitor the situation closely. Although there have been reports that Suvarnabhumi Airport will re-open to incoming flights, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to reiterate its earlier advisory to Singaporeans to postpone non-essential travel to Bangkok.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our Embassy continue to work closely with Singapore carriers to mount additional flights to help stranded Singaporeans in Bangkok return home. Singaporeans who were stranded are leaving Bangkok by flights out of U-Tapao Airport, as well as Phuket and Chiangmai. Several Singaporeans have made their way out of Bangkok by road and rail to Singapore. Many Singaporeans have informed the Embassy that they have reached home.

To date, the Embassy has contacted more than 600 stranded Singaporeans and assisted some 490 to leave Bangkok via flights out of U-Tapao Airport, as well as Phuket and Chiangmai. On 1 December, the Embassy arranged for a group of 72 Singaporeans to travel by land to Phuket in order to take flights by Silkair and Tiger Airways on 2 December. The Embassy also arranged for a group of 50 Singaporeans travelling on Thai Airways to travel to Phuket by coach to catch a flight home on 2 December. Another group of Singaporeans will be leaving tonight (2 December) for Phuket.

With these latest departures, about 120 Singaporeans remain in Bangkok. This figure includes those who have decided to remain for various reasons. The Embassy continues to reach out to stranded Singaporeans with assistance to make flight reservations for flights departing from U-Tapao, Chiangmai and Phuket, and with land transport to Phuket.

To assist the remaining stranded passengers, SIA's two daily flights out of U-Tapao will continue until 3 December with a possible extension if there is demand. SilkAir will also be mounting 13 additional flights between Singapore and Phuket between today (2 December) and Sunday (7 December), [two additional daily flights till Sunday and three additional flights on 2 December]. These are in addition to SilkAir's regular scheduled flights on the route. It will also mount three additional flights to Chiangmai. Tiger Airways will also continue to mount additional flights from Phuket.