Bangkok airport reopening Friday, but Thai tourism plunges

BANGKOK, Thailand — Thailand's main airport prepared to restore full operations, checking security and computer systems after a weeklong closure after anti-government protesters occupied it, stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers and crippling the country's tourist industry Suvarnabhumi airport, Thailand's main international gateway and a regional hub, will be "open for full services including check-in and immigration" at 11 a.m. Friday, airport chief Serirat Prasutanont said.

National airline Thai Airways has already restarted operations at the airport, which was shut down by anti-government protesters for one week. Singapore Airlines is to start Friday and many other airlines are expected to follow suit. The smaller domestic Don Muang airport was functioning normally with Thai Airways flying all of its scheduled flights within the country.

The sieges of the two airports by the People's Alliance for Democracy stranded more than 300,000 travelers in Thailand, while many others were unable to fly into the country during the peak tourist season.

The airport crisis has taken a heavy toll on the tourism industry — a pillar of the Thai economy — as holiday cancellations pour in from around the world.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects foreign tourist arrivals to fall by half from the projected 15 million next year.

Some hotels slashed their rates by as much

Thai officials have been scrambling to get Suvarnabhumi fully functional in time for the birthday Friday of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The airport crisis has taken a heavy toll on the tourism industry — a pillar of the Thai economy — as holiday cancellations pour in from around the world.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects foreign tourist arrivals to fall by half from the projected 15 million next year.

Some hotels slashed their rates by as much as 80 percent to fill empty rooms, The Nation newspaper reported.

Thai Airways and the Airports Authority of Thailand were preparing to sue protest leaders for damages resulting from the airports' seizure.

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