Bangkok  - Thick fog diverted 11 flights from Bangkok's international airport Thursday, forcing them to land at the Thai capital's domestic airport as well as farther afield in Chiang Mai and Phuket, airport officials said.

The fog, which reduced visibility to 800 metres, blanketed Suvarnabhumi Airport from 7 to 8 am, but lifted about 9 am, allowing traffic to resume, airport director Serirat Prasutanond said.

Of the 11 airplanes forced to land elsewhere, nine were diverted to the nearby Don Mueang Aiport, two to Phuket Airport in southern Thailand and one to Chiang Mai Airport in the far north.

The diverted airplanes included flights operated by Air Asia, Bangkok Airways, Cathay China Airlines, Gulf Air, Jet Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Thai Airways International.

It was the first time Suvarnabhumi Airport had to divert planes since November 26 to December 3 when the entire complex was shut down by protestors seeking to bring down the government. (dpa)