Airport apologizes after delays morph into chaos
By Leeann Li |
January 8, 2013, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE operator of Kunming Changshui International Airport apologized yesterday for the chaos that developed at the airport after fog canceled some 440 flights and stranded 20,000 passengers late last week.
The airport in capital of Yunnan Province was socked in with thick fog that reduced visibility to 300 to 800 meters starting on Thursday.
Things went from bad to worse as the number of stranded passengers mounted. The airport radio and the information board failed to work and airport personnel did not provide any explanations, The Beijing Times reported. Shortages of food and hot water developed.
Passenger Lu Zhiming told the paper that the terminal building turned into a dump.
"Many passengers waited for long periods without getting water and food. They kicked up a row and threw rubbish everywhere," he said.
Some passengers occupied and smashed check-in counters, shouting that they wanted to go home, the report said.
Flights finally resumed on Saturday after heavy fog lifted in the city. From midnight Friday to 3pm Saturday, 281 flights and nearly 10,000 passengers took off, according to Xinhua news agency.
But even as flights resumed, some passengers got into fights trying to get a seat, the newspaper said.
At 6:08pm on Saturday, the flight carrying the last group of the passengers still waiting left Kunming and flew to the southern city of Shenzhen. Some travelers found their luggage was missing, the paper said.
The airport operator, the Yunnan Airport Group, said the airport had opened on June 28 and lacked experience in dealing with such a situation.
"We feel very sorry and regret it," officials with the operator said.
The airport in capital of Yunnan Province was socked in with thick fog that reduced visibility to 300 to 800 meters starting on Thursday.
Things went from bad to worse as the number of stranded passengers mounted. The airport radio and the information board failed to work and airport personnel did not provide any explanations, The Beijing Times reported. Shortages of food and hot water developed.
Passenger Lu Zhiming told the paper that the terminal building turned into a dump.
"Many passengers waited for long periods without getting water and food. They kicked up a row and threw rubbish everywhere," he said.
Some passengers occupied and smashed check-in counters, shouting that they wanted to go home, the report said.
Flights finally resumed on Saturday after heavy fog lifted in the city. From midnight Friday to 3pm Saturday, 281 flights and nearly 10,000 passengers took off, according to Xinhua news agency.
But even as flights resumed, some passengers got into fights trying to get a seat, the newspaper said.
At 6:08pm on Saturday, the flight carrying the last group of the passengers still waiting left Kunming and flew to the southern city of Shenzhen. Some travelers found their luggage was missing, the paper said.
The airport operator, the Yunnan Airport Group, said the airport had opened on June 28 and lacked experience in dealing with such a situation.
"We feel very sorry and regret it," officials with the operator said.
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