BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

FLAG carrier Royal Brunei (RB) airlines will waive reissuance fees for passengers who wish to defer their flights to Bangkok following the deadly blast that rocked the capital city on Monday night.

When contacted yesterday, a spokesperson from RB said the fee waiver will be subjected to certain terms and conditions, but did not specify further.

He added that Bruneians who had bought Bangkok flight tickets are pushing ahead with their travel plans despite the bombing.

The spokesperson said “only a small number” of travellers have opted to cancel or postpone their travels in light of the explosion.

He went on to say that RB has yet to receive any circular from the Thai government advising against travels to Bangkok.

Meanwhile, General Manager of Century Travel Centre Foo C P, said a small group of customers returned to Brunei yesterday earlier than planned due to safety concerns.

There were also customers due to travel soon who decided to cancel their plans, while others who are still in Bangkok had decided to stay as they had originally planned.

“There are concerns among our customers, but there is not much of an impact to some as well. When we heard of the bombing, we contacted our customers immediately to find out if they were safe,” said Foo.

He advised travellers to exercise caution while travelling and to avoid crowded places for their own safety.

The Brunei Embassy in Thailand on Monday night said no Bruneians were reported injured in the blast outside Erawan Shrine along the Rachaprasong intersection in central Bangkok.

According to an official from the Brunei Embassy in Thailand, all Bruneians in the Thai capital, including students, were found safe.

It is not known how many Bruneians are currently in Bangkok.

The blast has killed at least 20 people, including tourists, and wounded 123.

According to a press statement issued by the Tourism Authority of Thailand on its website, security at key locations in Bangkok has been stepped up while “overall life in the city is continuing as normal”.

All public services and banks are still available to the public and tourist businesses, other tourist sites, hotels, restaurants, tour operators, shopping malls, transportation links, major roads and airports continue to operate.

The Brunei Times