The Airport Authority yesterday deployed its own 'tourist guides' after its plea that sightseers not visit the new airport was again ignored.
About 20 guides showed day trippers around the giant passenger terminal.
Up to 4,000 people were expected to visit the airport yesterday from more than 20 community and political groups, but many more came on their own, bringing their families.
An Airport Authority spokesman said: 'People knew that we had some problems and they were co-operative.
'Some groups had made bookings before the opening and could not cancel the trip,' he said.
The terminal was at its most crowded between 2pm and 7pm, with long queues forming outside toilets and elevators, which broke down several times before being repaired.