POST REPORTERS
Thai Airways International (THAI) resumed limited domestic and international flights yesterday ahead of the official reopening of Suvarnabhumi airport tomorrow.
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| Passengers on Thai Airways International’s flight TG 2109 from Phuket are the first group to land at Suvarnabhumi airport as it reopens for limited services yesterday after supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy withdrew. WEERAWONG WONGPREEDEE |
The national airline has borne the brunt of the airport closure with 20 billion baht in losses and made clear its intention to hold leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) accountable.
The first flight into the airport since it closed on Nov 25 arrived from Phuket at 2.10pm. The first outbound flight lifted off about 6.45pm headed for Sydney.
Five more THAI international flights were due to leave last night and very early today for New Delhi, Narita in Japan, Frankfurt, Seoul and Copenhagen.
THAI passengers still needed to contact the temporary check-in counter at the Bitec convention centre on Bang Na-Trat road pending a complete inspection of all airport facilities, said THAI chairman Surachai Tansitpong.
Other international airlines were still using U-tapao airport in Rayong.
Officials are checking all the aviation and IT systems at Suvarnabhumi airport and will invite representatives from the International Civil Aviation Organisation and International Association for Impact Assessment to inspect them tomorrow.
An initial inspection found no damage to taxiways, runways and key systems because the PAD demonstrators occupied only the front area of the passenger terminal, said Civil Aviation Department chief Chaisak Angsuwan.
Passengers have cancelled more than 1,000 flights on THAI and prospective customers would feel less confident in travelling to Thailand, said Mr Surachai.
The airline's board had resolved to bring a civil lawsuit against the PAD for an unspecified amount of compensation.
Other airlines had begun seeking legal advice whether Airports of Thailand (AoT), the PAD or other parties should be sued.
However, Bangkok Airways chief executive Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth said although he did not rule out future litigation to claim compensation he had not thought about it.
"My priority is to return our flights to normalcy and revive Thailand's battered tourism industry," he said.
Low-cost carrier Thai AirAsia has lost more than 320 million baht and will also look into who should be held legally responsible.
"For the time being, it is unclear to me whether the airport demonstrations can be classified as a riot or civil unrest, which may or may not entitle us to sue them," said Tassapon Bijleveld, chief executive of Thai AirAsia.
PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila was not surprised by the prospect of legal action.
"Before our rally there, we braced for both civil and criminal charges," he said. The PAD would raise funds for its defence.
Don Mueang airport, which was also closed following a separate invasion by the PAD last week, is set to officially open today with a THAI flight to Ubon Ratchathani scheduled for 6am.
An initial inspection found that only a window at the arrival hall was destroyed, shattered by a fatal M79 grenade attack launched from the tollway on Tuesday night, according to the AoT.
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