For over 20 years Phuket International Airport has welcomed several million tourists from around the world. In response to growing numbers of visitors, public and private agencies involved with the gateway to the Andaman are planning to upgrade the airport and improve its facilities for passenger comfort.
Phuket International Airport is Thailand’s second largest airport after Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi, both in handling cargo and by welcoming some 6.5 million tourists yearly.
Due to the increasing number of tourists, Phuket’s airport development project is now underway, according to Airports of Thailand (AoT).
“Many more airlines have requested landing rights at Phuket International Airport by the end of 2009. We also expect that the number of tourists will double by 2013,” said Prathuang Sornkhom, general manager of Phuket International Airport.
According to AoT, the airport development project is expected to be complete in 2013 and will include building an international passenger terminal for 12.5 million passengers, additional 21 bays, a cargo terminal, a new car park and walkways and right-of-ways for motorized baggage carts inside the airport, while renovation of the current passenger terminal, particularly the wash room areas, will take place at the initial phase.
“We’ll speed up the renovation process on what’s now uncomfortable for passengers. The lavatories must be satisfactory and clean to impress them.
We’ll also renovate ceilings and improve other things here at the airport for improved passenger comfort,” said Mr. Prathuang.
