Asian airports have morphed into disaster relief centers as the region deals with the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster, but Indonesian airports in the worst-hit areas are struggling to handle the increased traffic.

Tons of supplies are flowing into Banda Aceh airport, but its single runway cannot handle the increased traffic and its cargo facilities are also stretched beyond their limits by the around-the-clock airlift. Australian military aircraft reportedly were diverted from the Aceh province last week. Traffic bottlenecks have also been a problem at Sri Lanka's Colombo airport.

The Malaysian government is opening its airspace and two airports for the relief effort in Indonesia, according to the Malaysian national news agency. Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, near Kuala Lumpur, will be used as a forward base by the United Nations World Food Program. This was Kuala Lumpur's main airport before a much larger international airport was built for the city in 1998, becoming Malaysia's main gateway.

The United States has been permitted to use the Langkawi airport in northern Malaysia. The Penang local government is also willing to open the Bayan Lepas airport to foreign relief flights. Singapore is allowing its military bases to be used for storing military supplies.

Asian airlines also moved quickly to help the relief effort. Soon after the disaster, Thai Airways dispatched its Family Assistance and Support Team to Phuket airport to help passengers, and sent a medical team from Bangkok. The carrier also established a relief center at its head office to collect donated items and first-aid kits.