Companies face substantial delays in parcel deliveries by a minimum of two days because of the closure of Bangkok's two airports, with express couriers saying that logistics services are extremely unreliable for the time being.

Monrudee Theeraworawit, marketing manager of UPS Parcel Delivery Service Ltd, said UPS had informed clients that express deliveries would be delayed for two days at a minimum as the company had shifted operations from Suvarnabhumi Airport to U-Tapao in Chon Buri.

More than half of the parcels stranded at Suvarnabhumi had been cleared since the weekend after the cargo terminal was closed by the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Friday.

"Customers are informed that express delivery that normally takes one to three days would be delayed by at least two days," said Ms Monrudee.

"For customers who are in need to get parcels urgently, we have to check the possibility and serve their needs on a case-by-case basis," she said, but declined to say whether extra charges would apply.

DHL has also re-routed its air network to U-Tapao for inbound and outbound shipments. Shipments to and from other neighbouring and South Asian countries are being supported through DHL's Singapore hub to ensure minimum disruption.

Bangkok is among DHL's hubs in Asia-Pacific for processing shipments for Thailand and surrounding countries including Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam and some South Asian nations.

"In addition, we are supplementing our air network with our road network in Southeast Asia," DHL Thailand said in its statement.

"The current situation in Bangkok is fluid and we are monitoring the development closely and preparing for contingencies."

CEVA Logistics (Thailand) said it had managed to get one charter flight from U-Tapao for time-sensitive electronics and high-tech merchandise.

However, because of congestion at the navy air base, delays of about two to three days from original schedules are reported.

Road shipments would take four days longer than air services and for marine transport from Laem Chabang port, delivery could be done in a month, said the company's managing director Winfried Kiesbueye.

"I think that for logistics, nothing is reliable for the moment. It is very hard to plan ahead," Mr Kiesbueye said. "The situation is very stressful for all of us and for clients. Ad-hoc decisions have to be made as soon as possible."

The Thai Airfreight Forwarders Association (Tafa) yesterday asked the Department of Civil Aviation to co-ordinate with Airports of Thailand to allow freighters to land at Suvarnabhumi.

As well, the group proposed that Thai Airways International operate freighters from the international airport for a period of one month, said Tafa chairman Kasem Jaliyawatwong.

Thailand handles 1,000 tonnes of imports by air per day from 200 airlines operating at Suvarnabhumi, and 1,500 tonnes of export volume, he added.

According to Suwit Ratanachinda, president of Thai International Freight Forwarders Association, under normal circumstances, 1,500 tonnes of exports worth 1.8 billion baht a day went through the airport while imports totalled 900 tonnes or 1.2 billion baht and transit goods amounted to 589 tonnes each day. The additional costs of delivery of goods due to the airport closure amount to 600 million baht a day.