More than 450 Thai Muslims stranded at Bangkok’s besieged airport for four days have been bussed to a military base to board a plane for the hajj pilgrimage.

Spain is to send planes to repatriate more than 500 Spaniards stranded in Thailand due to the closure of Bangkok’s airports.

Tensions in Thailand were mounting tonight as stranded holidaymakers were forced to wait it out in Bangkok.

Thailand’s airport authority says Bangkok’s main international airport will remain closed at least until Monday evening because protesters refuse to leave the premises.

Protesters holding Bangkok’s airports were facing a crackdown tonight as the government warned it would use force to remove them.

Thailand’s main international airport cancelled all flights today as protesters thronged the complex in an effort to bring down the government.

The political crisis gripping Thailand could damage vital tourism trade, experts said today.

The taxiways are cracked, the terminal has leaks and some airlines even wonder whether it is safe to fly into Thailand’s new international airport.