Don Muang airport will need another three weeks before it is ready for re-opening, Surayud said.

He was speaking after chairing a meeting of committee on solving problems of Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports.

"Talking about problems at the new airport, there were two parts; firstly those at runways and taxiways and secondly at the passenger buildings. We have to focus at the passenger terminals because their safety come first. Concerning cracks at the runways and taxiways, I believe that they are still covered by insurance," he said.

In a separate interview, Transport Minister Thira Haocharoen said the non-connecting domestic flights would use Don Muang Airport while repairs to the taxiways and the runway of the new airport at Suvarnabhumi are carried out.

 To operate nontransit domestic flights at the old airport would be Thai Airways International, Nok Air and OneTwoGo. The resolution would be forwarded for the Cabinet's approval next week.

 Theera said Don Muang should then accommodate about 70 flights per day.

 "International flights would remain at Suvarnabhumi Airport," he told reporters.

 "(Despite the decision), Don Muang still remains an international airport, as chartered flights overseas are still operated at the airport," Thira said.

 The ministry was also assigned to study, in a sixmonth period, if more airlines would move to Don Muang.

Thira earlier said only the damaged part of one of the runways at Suvarnabhumi would be closed off for repairs for two weeks. That would have minimum impact on air traffic at the new airport as the existing runways are long enough to accommodate take-offs and landings.

The minister stressed that the authorities would leave it to each airline to decide whether to move their base to Don Muang or to stay at Suvarnabhumi.

Airports of Thailand Plc informed the meeting Thursday that Bangkok's recently decommissioned airport at Don Muang could be reopened from March 25.

It is expected that about 20 per cent of flights to Thailand would opt to transfer their operations to Don Muang, which would help alleviate congestion at the new airport while repairs are carried out.

The Nation