Australians stranded in Bangkok will begin returning home on an emergency Qantas flight tonight as the Rudd government examines other ways to help citizens leave Thailand.
Around 400 Australians have spent the last week stuck in the Thai capital after political protestors blocked the main airports.
The government, along with Qantas, have arranged for Australians to be taken by bus to Phuket, which is 14 hours away, where an emergency Qantas flight will take passengers home.
Acting Foreign Minister Simon Crean has told the ABC the government is also looking at using other airports to evacuate Australians.
“The military airport is taking planes, as is Chiang Mai,” he said.