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.

Transport Minister Thira Haocharoen confirmed domestic flights of a few low-cost airlines -- Thai Airways International, Nok Air and One Two Go -- are scheduled to use Don Muang from March 25. Budget carrier AirAsia that originally lobbied for re-opening of Don Muang will remain at Suvarnabhumi.

Adm. Thira said a total of 71 domestic flights will use Don Muang airport daily in order to ease heavy air traffic at Suvarnabhumi airport by 17 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Airports of Thailand will file a report to the International Civil Aviation Organization pertaining to the partial repairs of Suvarnabhumi airport, following the probe launched by a committee of the state firm into partial damages of the runway and excessive water underneath the soft tarmacs, which is yet to be drained off. Fire exits and other safety features are yet to be built at the passenger terminal.