Southeast Asia

Indonesia: Airlines Fail to Meet International Standards

Date: April 18th, 2007 |

Two recent air accidents—a plane crash in January and an aircraft overshooting a runway in March—prompted the government to order an audit of all Indonesian air carriers. The result was that none of the 54 companies checked received the top of three grades, and six were warned to meet safety regulations in three months or [read more]

Malaysia: Tourists Voice Complaints, Officials Listen

Date: March 28th, 2007 |

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Tourism officials are responding to tourist feedback that revealed issues some visitors have with travel in the country. High on the list are dirty toilets in and around Kuala Lumpur, not just public toilets but restaurant facilities as well; rude and dishonest taxi drivers; and pickpockets in crowded shopping malls and street markets, in particular [read more]

Indonesia: Earthquake Strikes Sumatra

Date: March 7th, 2007 |

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A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the island of Sumatra March 6, toppling hundreds of buildings in Padang and other cities and killing at least 82 people. The epicenter was about 30 miles northeast of Padang. Power was knocked out in many places and aid and rescue operations were under way. It may be many days [read more]

Thailand: Don Muang Airport to Reopen; Tightened Security in Bangkok

Date: February 28th, 2007 |

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Don Muang International Airport in Bangkok will reopen March 25 for domestic flights on Thai Airways and three other smaller airlines because of ongoing problems at the new Suvarnabhumi airport. The switch could cause confusion if a connection needs to be made to a domestic flight from an international flight because they would be using [read more]

Thailand: Suvarnabhumi Airport Problems Not as Bad as Feared

Date: February 14th, 2007 |

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The problems at Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi airport are not as bad as feared, according to the chief engineer of the Thai government agency responsible for overseeing the airport. In a two-week investigation authorities discovered that cracks in the pavement on taxiways and one of two runways affected the surface only and the engineering work underneath [read more]

Singapore: New Restrictions on Liquids at Changi, Seletar Airports

Date: April 11th, 2007 |

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Beginning May 8, Singapore’s Changi and Seletar airports will comply with International Civil Aviation Organization guidelines to restrict liquids in carry-on luggage, limiting passengers to one 35 oz (1 liter) re-sealable plastic bag holding their toothpaste, lipstick, shaving cream, gels and other liquids. Each substance must be in a container no larger than 3.5 oz [read more]

Thailand: Haze Plagues North

Date: March 21st, 2007 |

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Thailand has been experiencing its worst air quality in 14 years, with the northern region suffering most. Since the beginning of March, fires from brush clearing, trash burning, and forest blazes pushed pollution in Chiang Mai beyond acceptable levels. On March 14 air quality exceeded the emergency level. By March 20 pollution had dropped to [read more]

Laos: Fighting Endangers Highway from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

Date: February 28th, 2007 |

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The U.S. Embassy has received reports from several sources of fighting between Lao government forces and one or more unidentified groups in the area of Vang Vieng in northern Vientiane province. Embassy officials recommend avoiding surface travel north from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, and prohibit travel by Embassy personnel to Luang Prabang along Route [read more]

Indonesia: Jakarta Floods Continue; Dengue Fever Outbreak

Date: February 14th, 2007 |

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Jakarta is suffering from its worst flooding in five years and the rains have continued, giving little relief to the quarter of a million people displaced by the high water. Authorities are working to combat flood-related diseases such as diarrhea, cholera and skin ailments. Dengue fever is also a problem, but is not restricted to [read more]

Thailand: Bangkok’s New Airport Has Problems

Date: February 1st, 2007 |

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Bangkok’s new international airport is beset with problems, from cracked taxiways to leaky roofs to inadequate bathrooms to luggage snafus. The national airport authority has found some 61 issues needing repair or redesign that will cost an estimated $45 million and six months to fix. Perhaps worst, Thailand’s Department of Civil Aviation did not renew [read more]