'Move all airlines back'

Speaking after his first meeting with his committee, Srisook said the most pressing task in restoring tourist confidence was to shift all domestic operations back to Suvarnabhumi. Don Mueang Airport could be used for charter flights and private jets, as well as a maintenance centre.

Suvarnabhumi can offer full services, so airline operations at Don Mueang could be curtailed, he said.

Four airlines - Thai Airways International, Orient Thai and low-cost carriers Nok Air and One-Two-Go - now operate domestic flights out of Don Mueang Airport.

However, Nok Air CEO Patee Sarasin opposes Srisook's idea, saying it would cost the airline between Bt10 million and Bt20 million to shift operations to Suvarnabhumi again.

"Nok Air had to pay a huge amount of money to move back to Don Mueang from Suvarnabhumi. If the committee wants the airlines operating at Don Mueang to move yet again to Suvarnabhumi, who's going to pay for that?" he said.

Patee said Suvarnabhumi Airport still had not formulated a plan for accommodating more flights. The aviation industry is under pressure from the global financial crisis, and with the drop-off in tourist numbers in the Kingdom, the government should help private firms and airlines reduce costs instead of coming up with "flip-flop policies" that would only create much higher expenses for companies.