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Finnair
is continuing to operate its emergency air bridge between Phuket in Thailand and Finland, evacuating thousands of Finnish tourists from the
Tsunami disaster-stricken area over the New Year period.
The first evacuation flight departed in response to the tsunami floods on Sunday, December 26 to Phuket, taking a medical team to the area. The first flight from the crisis
area returned to Helsinki on the evening of Monday, December 27. Later flights transported medical teams from the Finnish Red Cross and tour operator representatives.
Eleven emergency shuttle flights are being operated to Finland this week, with a total capacity of 2,382 seats. As of Friday, December 31, more than 1,800 passengers
had been evacuated on eight flights from Phuket and Sri Lanka. In addition, more than a hundred individuals, including Finns, Swedes and Norwegians, were evacuated
through Bangkok on Finnair's scheduled flights to Helsinki. Evacuation flight arrivals from Phuket were due at 9.55 on January 1, 2005 (AY1964), at 7.20 on January 2,
2005 (AY1962).
Finnair
said it is prepared to continue with further emergency evacuation flights as and when necessary.
'Ambulance' conversion for Boeing 757
In addition, Finnair has also allocated a Boeing 757 aircraft as a specially converted 'ambulance' aircraft for passengers in need of more urgent medical attention. The
aircraft cabin has space for 22 patients on stretchers, as well as 55 seated passengers. The workforce and fittings were organised by the Helsinki and Uusimaa
provincial medical authority, HUS.
The special aircraft is intended to evacuate passengers from Phuket and Bangkok, and departed from Helsinki airport at 19.59 on Thursday, December 30.
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