Bangkok's private hospitals are moving to maximize their presence at the new airport and to bring in new business.

Bumrungrad International last week opened a new airport service centre at Suvarnabhumi, while Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital is scheduled to open the first medical center to be run by a private hospital at the airport next week.

Centrally located in section C of the arrival hall and next to the Tourism Authority of Thailand counter, the Bumrungrad Airport Service Center provides mainly information and ground support services for its inbound patients in a stylish, business-class lounge setting. The center complements a long list of services the hospital currently offers international patients, which include on-site serviced apartments, visa extensions and interpreters.

BANGKOK, Feb 16 – Capping a period in growing confusion over the status of Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont confirmed Friday that the new facility will not be closed as earlier feared but the number of daily flights will be reduced due to partial repairs of the new airport.

"Initially some non-connecting domestic flights will return to Don Muang airport next month on a voluntary basis while one runway at Suvarnabhumi, as well as its tarmacs and passenger terminal, will undergo repairs and improvement shortly," the prime minister said.

Gen. Surayud added that he assigned the Transport Ministry to conduct a study and come up with a proposal within six months on whether any additional flights should be transferred to Don Muang.

BANGKOK, Feb 15 – State-owned Thai Airways International has decided to maintain its international fleet at Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi airport despite the government plan to reopen Don Muang as a second international hub.

At the board of directors’ meeting Wednesday, THAI chairman ACM Chalit Pukbhasuk said the airline had resolved not to transfer its international fleets to Don Muang as the move would send costs spiraling.

The national flag carrier had invested over Bt16 billion in facilities and equipment at the new airport which opened in late September.

The announcement came two days after the committee investigating problems at Suvarnabhumi had concluded that the damage to the taxiways and a runway was less serious than expected. The airport is likely to stay open while repairs are carried out to mend the cracks on the taxiways and the runway.

BANGKOK, February 6 - Thailand's government in its weekly cabinet meeting Tuesday agreed to reopen the former Don Muang airport for both domestic and international flights, making it an additional international airport to supplement the problem-plagued new Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont told reporters after the meeting that the cabinet resolution to let Bangkok have two international airports is to cater for growing number of passengers.

During this time Don Muang airport must be readied as another international airport, the prime minister said, without giving further detail.

BANGKOK, January 31 - Renovation of the 90-year-old Bangkok Airport at Don Muang to ready it for its re-launch is proceeding at full speed and airport officials are confident the facility would be re-opened in 45 days for non-connecting domestic flights.

Transport Minister Thira Haocharoen on Tuesday expressed hope to see the recently-decommissioned Don Muang International Airport reopen for domestic flights prior to the Songkran (Thai New Year) festival so that it could serve a large number of inbound and outbound passengers.

Airport manager Flight Lieutenant Pinit Saraithong affirmed that Don Muang can be ready in time for the Songkran (Thai New Year) rush, but the plan needs to be approved first by the cabinet, which may consider the plan on February 6.