Suvarnabhumi operates at nearly full capacity

Serirat Prasutanond, acting president of Airports of Thailand and director of Suvarnabhumi, said the number of first-day flights would likely be close to the average of 547 per day under normal circumstances.

The airport had been shut down for eight days by protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy. It was partly reopened earlier this week after the PAD left the premises.

Prior to its full reopening yesterday, the Civil Aviation Department certified that the airport met international safety and security standards.

Representatives of international aviation bodies also inspected the airport and its facilities yesterday.

Serirat said some airlines were still postponing resuming their services to and from Bangkok, but flight frequency should be close to normal in the coming days.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand yesterday organised a farewell event for stranded international tourists who managed to catch flights home.

In addition, the TAT and national flag carrier Thai Airways International are planning to introduce new holiday packages to lure foreign visitors back to the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Udom Tatiprasongchai, chief executive officer of One Two Go, said the airline had resumed operations yesterday, using Don Mueang Airport as its base.

It currently operates the Don Mueang-Chiang Mai and Don Mueang-Phuket routes and will add more services from Don Mueang to Hat Yai, Chiang Rai and Nakhon Si Thammarat next week.

The airline was earlier ordered to suspend its operations for four months due to its failure to meet aviation standards following the crash last year of one of its aircraft at Phuket International Airport, killing many tourists.

Udom said One Two Go would no longer position itself as a budget carrier.