Thousands of foreign tourists left stranded in Thailand could be set to finally return home after anti-government protesters agreed to end their blockade of two Bangkok airports.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport was forced to cancel all flights on 25 November after members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) occupied the site, before Don Mueang International Airport suspended its operations on 27 November. PAD's announcement that it would end its protests on 3 December came shortly after UK Foreign Office minister, Bill Rammell, revealed that a number of airlines would be laying on additional flights with the support of the government to help bring tourists back to Britain.

Rammell said: "We have talked to all the major airlines and tour operators with large numbers of British ticket holders. They are working with our support to provide additional flights from alternative airports. Qantas are now laying on additional flights from Phuket, including [flights] for alliance partners British Airways." Other airlines, including Emirates, Thai Airways and Cathay Pacific, were said to be also providing extra services as part of the operation.

Meanwhile, the BBC has said that there have been reports that Suvarnabhumi will be able to reopen on 4 December, more than a week after being forced to close. Image: Flickr/Marc oh!