Normal service resumed at Bangkoks airports

Anti-government protesters left Bangkok’s main airports on 3 December after an eight-day siege that closed the airport to all passenger flights.

The protests and occupations are now over and we understand that the Airport Authority of Thailand in conjunction with IATA is beginning the testing and re-certification process at the main international airport (SBIA) to restore operations as soon as possible. Cargo-only aircraft began arriving last night with many more scheduled for today. There will of course be some cargo backlogs for several days.
 
The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) called off the protests after a court banned Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from politics. The move satisfied the demands of the protestors and no further action is planned.

A Thai Airways arrived at Suvarnabhumi airport at 1415 local time from Phuket marking the return to passenger operations. It is planned that international passenger flights will resume on 4 December.

The protest has cost Thailand millions of dollars in lost tourist and business revenue. The airport has become an important air freight hub for the region and the resumption of full cargo handling and logistics is a priority.