International express companies have diverted shipments from Bangkok to nearby airports to keepgoods flowing and minimise delays resulting from the dramatic occupation of Suvarnabhumi
international airport by anti-government protestors. But some cargo flights were due to operatetoday after protestors agreed to give up their week-long siege following the resignation of theprime minister.In recent days, DHL Express and UPS re-routed flights to U-Tapao, the small military airportsouth of Bangkok that is also being used to fly out stranded foreign tourists, while DHL and TNTswitched shipments from air to ground transportation, according to reports.
DHL Express has re-routed local shipments through U-Tapao but has switched internationalshipments heading for neighbouring countries in Indo-China and some South Asian destinations totransit via Singapore instead of Bangkok, the Bangkok Post newspaper reported. In addition, thecompany is transporting some regional shipments by road.
Companies face delivery delays of at least two days, the newspaper cited MonrudeeTheeraworawit, marketing manager of UPS Thailand, as saying. The company had managed to clear abouthalf of its backlog at Suvarnabhumi international airport, she said.
TNT Express has reportedly seen a boom in volumes on its Asia Road Network, operatingscheduled truck services between Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indo-China and southern China,since shipments can no longer be flown by air to and from Bangkok. The company is truckingintra-regional, Europe and China shipments to Malaysia and Singapore for airlift from thosecountries.
Thailand Post had more than 100,000 pieces of international mail and parcels stranded by theairport occupation, the Bangkok Post said. It had cleared about half of this over the last twodays, however, after flights were switched to U-Tapao airport. Thailand Post cooperates with bothDHL and UPS.
However, several cargo flights were expected to operate out of Suvarnabhumi internationalairport today after protestors agreed to end their occupation. This followed a Thai court verdictwhich forced the resignation of the prime minister.
Malaysian airline Transmile was due to operate a B727F flight carrying express cargo to HongKong, while two flights by Air Hong Kong were scheduled later in the day, Reuters reported. Bothcarriers operate on behalf of DHL Express.
