Two Shanghai airlines have sent 23 chartered flights to pick up tourists stranded by the anti-government protests in Thailand.

Shanghai Airlines flew 650 Thai tourists back to Bangkok on four Boeing 737-800 jets and returned to Shanghai yesterday morning with 650 Chinese tourists. The carrier has no plans to arrange more chartered flights to Bangkok, a spokesman said yesterday.

China Eastern Airlines also added 19 chartered flights, including eight from Shanghai, to bring back Chinese tourists yesterday morning.

No Shanghai tourists were reported to have been affected by the Thai protests. But no more tours will depart Shanghai for Thailand until at least the May Day holiday. Tourists who have booked tours can ask for a refund, local tour agencies said.

Chinese tourists still in Thailand will stay until their tours are finished, the Shanghai Tourism Administration said. All of them are safe. Most will return this week and the rest next week.

(Shanghai Daily April 17, 2009)