Phuket International Airport is located in Phuket in Thailand. The airport is operated by Airports of Thailand (AOT) and is the second-busiest airport in Thailand in terms of passengers. The airport handled approximately 5.7 million passengers and recorded 37,991 aircraft movements in 2008.
The airport handles approximately 12,000t of cargo a year. Airlines operating at the airport include Bangkok Airways, China Airlines, Aeroflot, Jetstar Airways and Korean Air.
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Phuket International expansion
The Thai Government aims to increase the airport’s capacity to 12.5 million passengers by 2018 by way of expansions. In December 2009, the cabinet approved the budget for the expansion, which is estimated to cost 5.8bn baht ($182m).
The increasing number of passengers however called for an immediate increase in airport capacity. As a result the initial phase of expansion was undertaken in 2009.
In October 2009, the airport received 10.3m baht for expansion of immigration checkpoints. Eight passenger lanes will be included to passport checkpoints for incoming flights and 18 for the outgoing flights. Construction work began in 2009 and is scheduled for completion in 2010.
According to the fiscal plan for 2009-2011, the airport will undergo further expansion, estimated to cost 516m baht and expected to be completed by 2013. The initial phase of this construction will include the new international terminal, cargo terminal and the parking area. As part of the initial phase, the current passenger terminal will also be renovated.
The current international terminal, which was completed in 2007, is to be converted into a domestic terminal. A new cargo building, taxiway, 11 parking bays for aircraft and an airport office are also planned.
The transport system will be improved by laying new roads. In addition, a parking garage for the new international terminal will also be built.
Terminals
The airport currently has a single three-storey terminal building and capacity to handle approximately three million passengers a year. There are two terminals within the building, Terminal 1 dedicated to international flights and Terminal 2 domestic flights. Terminal 1 covers an area of 45,688m² and Terminal 2 covers approximately 19,144m².
The first floor of the terminal is a dedicated arrivals area, which consists of international and domestic arrival lounges and a passenger hall. The second floor is a dedicated departures area, featuring international and domestic departure lounges, check in counters and a passenger hall.
The arrival area features a baggage claim area with five conveyor belts. Currency exchange counters and a limousine counter are also located it the arrival area. The departure area contains a first aid facility.
Duty-free outlets are found in both departure and arrival areas. Places to eat are located throughout the terminal building. The building also has facilities for disabled passengers.
Runways
Phuket International Airport has a single runway, designated 09/27. The length and width of the runway are 3,000m and 45m respectively. It is surfaced with asphalt and concrete.
In April 1985, a Thai Airways Boeing 737-2P5 crashed at the airport, causing 11 casualties. In September 2007, One-Two-GO Airlines Flight 269 hit the runway while landing and exploded. In the same year a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 slipped on the runway and crashed, killing 83 passengers and seven crew members on the spot.
Car parking
Parking of the airport covers an area of 12,884m² and offers 447 spaces for short-term, long-term and disabled parking areas. The car park is located in front of the terminal.
Transportation
There are numerous transport facilities at the airport. Public taxis, limousines, minibuses and airport buses operate to and from the airport. All the transport facilities are available at arrival level.
