AIRLINES serving Phuket are hoping to attract price-conscious travelers back after the blockade of Bangkok airports by protesters in late November.

Here are the latest deals:

AirAsia is giving away 100,000 free seats for passengers booking flights to and around Thailand from December 17-19, for flights originating in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Most of the flights are to and from Suvarnabhumi airport, but from Phuket, free flights to Singapore are on offer. Free seats are for only a single flight (no return flights) and taxes and other fees must be paid. Various campaigns, dubbed Get Your Baht To Thailand, Mai Pen Rai Thailand and Same Same Thailand, are part of a joint effort by AirAsia and the Tourism Authority of Thailand to restore confidence in Thailand as a travel destination. AirAsia operates more than 400 international weekly flights connecting Thailand to the rest of Southeast Asia and China. Thai AirAsia runs 378 flights a week. Thai AirAsia, which operates out of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport, was forced to cancel or reroute dozens of flights during the eight-day siege of the airport.

Firefly, the budget carrier of Malaysia Airlines, has announced that it has removed fuel surcharges on all its flights and is offering off-peak fares through the high season. The airline also plans to offer discounts of up to 80 percent or free seats in the coming low season. Firefly has been in operation since April 2007, and has regular flights to Phuket from Malaysia.

Bangkok Airways has launched a ''Thanks Fares'' promotion, offering Phuket-Bangkok fares for 1800 baht (3600 baht return), including tax and surcharges, for bookings made from now until March 31, 2009.

SilkAir is offering ''Hot Deal Low Season Fares'' for December through to the end of March 2009, for flights to Phuket originating in Singapore. Prices start at 229 Singapore dollars (about 5400 baht), inclusive of all taxes and surcharges.