A group of residents around Suvarnabhumi airport threatened to launch rockets and balloons to disrupt airborne passenger jetliners again next Saturday unless they are paid compensation money for noise pollution.

At a noisy meeting on Saturday, the residents said they would give the Airports of Thailand exactly a week to start payments, or they would try again to disrupt flights at the New Bangkok International Airport.

Around 100 residents invited the Thai media to the meeting, and called on the new government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to order the AoT to honour what they claimed were promises for money that never has come.

Wanchart Manathamsombat, a key leader of the 32 noise-affected communities, told the media conference that residents will not invade the airport or attempt to stage any protests. Instead, he said chillingly, they plan to "seize the sky" from their homes.

He refused to elaborate, but his supporters told reporters that residents planned to release balloons, set off fireworks and shoot off homemade Thai rockets similar to the ones used by northeastern farmers.Mr Wanchart, after calling the media and issuing the threat, then appeared to realise the import of his deadly warning, and refused to back his own words.

"Please understand that we have no authority to stop any of the residents who were told only lies by the AoT. We will not be responsible for any action that may be taken on the day. It is an individual decision to protect his or her own rights." The threat is not empty. In an incident widely unreported by the media last month, residents around the airport released more than 100 balloons in the sky.

"Luckily, airport authorities observed the action. They grounded all flights for more than two hours, and diverted incoming airliners away from Suvarnabhumi. There were no lives lost. Lat Krabang police have sent letters to all 32 communities claiming to be affected by the noise pollution, warning them not to repeat that act or take any other action that could endanger airliners or passengers. Mr Wanchart said the AoT last Nov 9 signed a formal agreement to buy homes from local residents who suffer through airplane departures and arrivals and send noise levels soaring above 70 decibels. No compensation has been paid to anyone, Mr Somchart said.

"Frustrated by the delay, the angry residents said they would release home-made rockets and large balloons into the sky to disrupt flights arriving and taking off at the airport. The rockets are known as "bung fai" in the northeastern Thai dialect and are capable of soaring hundreds of feet into the air. They freely admitted the threat would damage the country's image - never mind what would happen if they actually fired rockets and released balloons into aircraft flight paths. But the residents claimed they "had no choice" but to go ahead with the threats, because the AoT was insincere about solving the noise and compensation problems.

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited today announced it will start commercial flights, for the first time, to the popular southern resort island of Samui.

THAI's Boeing 737-400 aircraft, capable of carrying 149 passengers (12 on Royal Silk Class / 137 on Economy Class) will start the twice daily service on 15 February, 2008.

According to Mr. Pandit Chanapai, THAI's Executive Vice President, Commercial Department, said the new route supports the Thai government's policy to promote inbound and domestic tourism, particularly to the southern and outer island resorts. THAI expects up to 70 percent of passengers into Samui on its flights to be from overseas. It fits with our policy of "First Flight, Full Flight, Every Flight..

"This is a breakthrough for THAI. Samui is a premier destination. We aim to make the route very competitive by marketing it to tourists from major European cities currently served by THAI connecting through Suvanarbhumi Airport. In addition, THAI's policy is to expand its network and connections in order to provide seamless travel and convenience for its passengers," Mr Chanapai said.

Special Royal Orchid Holidays [ROH] packages, including a wide range of packages and products, will be offered to travelers. These include selection of twenty hotels in Samui and two hotels in Pha Ngan plus 11 optional tours to the popular Ang Thong Marine National Park and Koh Tao.