PAD blockade: Hat Yai airport cancels more flights

SONGKHLA, Sept 3 (TNA) - Thailand's Hat Yai airport cancelled at least
three flights to Bangkok on Wednesday morning after anti-government
People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters blockading the facility's entrance refused to disperse after blocking the main entrance to the airport for the second day.

The three cancelled flights were THAI Airways, Air Asia and Nok Air.

The PAD protesters vowed to continue their blockade until midnight and
threatened to storm into the terminal if the authorities use force to
disperse them.

More PAD supporters are expected to join the protest at the venue, the
commercial hub and crossroads of Thailand's southern region, later on
Wednesday.

Songkhla PAD leader Banjong Na-sae said the group intended to gather again until the prime minister dissolves the House of Representatives.

Hat Yai Airport Authority director Wing Commander Nat Homasawin said as a result of the demonstration, seven flights bound for Bangkok were
cancelled on Tuesday.

The question of whether flight services can resume as scheduled on
Wednesday is subject to the outcome of negotiations with the
demonstrators, he said.

Songkhla governor Sonthi Techanan tried to negotiate with the protest
leaders Wednesday morning to persuade them to end their blockade.

Thai Airways International President Apinan Sumanaseni said four THAI
flights between Bangkok and Hat Yai were cancelled. However, other
domestic flights operated by THAI are not affected. (TNA)