Phuket Airport expansion to double passenger capacity

Phuket Airport’s new international terminal is set to double its passenger capacity when it opens next May, according to airport director Monrudee Gettuphan.

Construction of the terminal is more than 80 percent complete. It will undergo initial systems checks this month ahead of its soft opening on Feb. 14 and is on target to be fully operational by May, Monruidee said.

“The new international terminal will be able to handle 12.5 million passengers annually, which is almost double the existing one, which can take only 6.5 million passengers per year,” Monrudee said.

The new terminal will include 10 aircraft parking bays, four gangways for passengers to embark and disembark from aircraft, and a brand-new shopping area with duty-free shops and restaurants.

“But we are not only rushing the project to be done according to the plan, but also ensuring that the airport meets the standards by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand,” Monrudee added.

The new terminal is part of a major THB5.7 billion overhaul of the airport, which began more than two years ago.

Concerns have already been raised that Phuket Airport will be over-capacity soon after the expansion project is complete. A THB3 billion “upgrade of the upgrade” to raise passenger capacity to 18 million has already been tabled.