Phuket International Airport Explained

Nativename:Thai: ท่าอากาศยานภูเก็ต
Thai: สนามบินภูเก็ต
Iata:HKT
Icao:VTSP
Type:Public
Owner-Oper:Airports of Thailand
City-Served:Phuket
Location:Mai Khao, Thalang, Phuket, Thailand
Elevation-F:82
Metric-Elev:yes
Coordinates:8.1131°N 98.3167°W
Mapframe:yes
Pushpin Map:Thailand Phuket#Thailand#Southeast Asia
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Phuket province##Location in Thailand##Location in Southeast Asia
Pushpin Label:HKT/VTSP
R1-Number:09/27
R1-Length-M:3,000
R1-Surface:Asphalt concrete
Metric-Rwy:yes
Stat1-Header:Total passengers
Stat1-Data:13,979,184 78.88%
Stat2-Header:International passengers
Stat2-Data:7,716,858 144.57%
Stat3-Header:Domestic passengers
Stat3-Data:6,262,326 34.39%
Stat4-Header:Aircraft movements
Stat4-Data:87,304 51.91%
Stat5-Header:Freight (tonnes)
Stat5-Data:32,217 330.7%
Stat-Year:2023
Footnotes:Sources: Airport[1] Airports of Thailand[2]

Phuket International Airport is an international airport serving the island of Phuket and its province in southern Thailand. It is located north of downtown Phuket in the Mai Khao subdistrict of Thalang district. The airport plays a major role in Thailand's tourism industry, as Phuket is a popular resort destination. It is the third-busiest airport in Thailand in terms of passengers, after Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang International Airport in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. The airport set a record of 15.1 million arrivals and departures in 2016, up 17.8 percent from 2015.[3] In 13 July 2024, first direct flight between South America and Asia route from Ministro Pistarini International Airport go to Phuket International Airport [4] & landing at Phuket on 14 July 2024 19.50 PM operate by Comlux.

Facilities

Terminals

Phuket International Airport features three distinct terminals to manage its air traffic. Terminal 2 is designated for international flights, while Terminal 3 handles domestic flights. Additionally, Terminal X, specifically intended for charter flights, was opened in February 2014.

To accommodate increasing passenger traffic, Phuket International Airport underwent a significant expansion and renovation project, which was completed in 2016 at a cost of 5.14 billion baht.[5] This expansion of the new international terminal increased its capacity to handle 12.5 million passengers annually.[6] Overall, the expansion enhanced the airport's total capacity from 6.5 million to 20 million passengers per year.[7]

In light of the airport's congestion and limited space for further expansion, a proposal for a rail link from Krabi International Airport, an alternate location, was put forward in 2012. This suggestion aimed to alleviate the growing traffic and logistical challenges faced by Phuket Airport.[8]

Future

See main article: Phang Nga airport.

A proposal for a new international airport has been put forward, aimed at serving three provinces: Phang Nga, Phuket, and Krabi. The construction of this airport is planned to be carried out in two phases. The first phase of the project was anticipated to be completed by 2025, but in 2022, the entire proposal was put on hold. The new airport was intended to function as an alternative to the existing Phuket and Krabi airports, offering additional capacity and potentially alleviating air traffic congestion in the region.[9] [10] [11]

Airlines and destinations

This flight makes a stop at Penang. However, the airline does not have traffic rights to transport passengers solely between Phuket and Penang.

Traffic statistics

Phuket is a favorite tourist destination in the region. International passengers mainly come from Asia Pacific and Europe.[12] In 2012 it ranked second-busiest in total passenger traffic, after Suvarnabhumi Airport in the Bangkok metropolitan area. In mid-2015 the airport, designed to handle 20 flights per hour, was servicing 23 per hour.[13]

Phuket airport handled 12.9 million passengers in 2015, 12.8 percent more than 2014, with international numbers rising 8.27 percent to 6.95 million and domestic up 18.6 percent to 5.9 million. Aircraft movements grew 11.6 percent to 84,758, with 43,996 international (up 7.63 percent) and 40,762 domestic (up 16.1 percent).

Passenger movements

YearDomesticInternationalTotalChange%
19951,730,895919,5032,650,398 9.68
19961,896,068879,6882,775,756 4.73
19971,898,303942,3362,840,639 2.34
19982,132,1081,010,6063,142,714 10.63
19992,035,8361,189,8953,225,731 2.64
20002,171,1461,358,7453,541,575 9.43
20012,240,2641,370,4293,610,693 2.29
20022,230,6631,382,8583,613,521 0.08
20032,104,5481,496,4013,600,949 0.35
20042,826,0222,024,8794,850,901 34.71
20052,246,723922,3113,169,034 34.67
20063,032,9761,677,7234,710,699 48.65
20073,513,9662,190,3995,704,365 21.09
20083,321,4432,409,3055,703,748 0.46
20093,489,0122,290,9065,779,918 0.86
20103,701,4273,342,3567,043,783 21.87
20114,097,2764,370,7198,467,995 20.22
20124,475,6245,065,9289,541,552 12.68
20134,958,8806,383,61111,342,491 18.87
20144,976,4516,425,04711,401,498 0.52
20155,909,3566,950,00012,859,356 12.8
20166,997,8798,109,30615,107,185 17.48
20177,655,5799,200,05816,855,637 11.6
20187,817,89410,403,63118,221,525 8.1
20197,452,262 10,666,17818,118,440 0.57
20202,332,3493,155,2645,429,708 70.0
20211,502,356287,4811,789,837 67.04
20224,659,6723,155,2647,814,936 336.63%
20236,262,3267,716,85813,979,184 78.88%

Aircraft movements

YearDomestic International Total Change%
199511,1359,38020,515 6.79
199611,5869,62621,212 3.40
199711,40210,25721,659 2.11
19989,67310,27219,945 7.91
19999,39111,88721,278 6.68
200011,85011,47223,322 9.61
200112,70512,46725,172 7.93
200210,92012,24823,168 7.96
200312,66912,01524,684 6.54
200416,76515,91732,682 32.40
200514,1159,97024,085 26.30
200617,20713,68030,887 28.24
200723,91516,88440,799 32.09
200820,81417,17737,991 6.88
200920,88316,98737,870 0.32
201025,31123,25748,568 28.25
201127,93228,74156,673 16.69
201228,57832,42661,004 7.64
201332,37040,21972,589 18.99
201435,09640,87875,974 4.66
201540,76243,99684,758 16.1
201648,88348,93097,813 15.4
201752,60953,484106,093 8.5
201854,51463,766118,280 11.49
201950,40965,167115,576 2.29
202025,50513,34338,848 66.4
202114,3474,17718,524 52.32
202236,03321,43657,469 57,469
202344,08043,22487,304 51.91

Freight tonnage

YearDomesticInternationalTotalChange%
19955,6595,02110,680 198.16
19967,9945,62013,614 27.47
19978,2857,52215,807 16.11
19988,2137,68315,896 0.56
199910,96311,45522,418 41.03
20009,84111,09120,932 6.63
20019,3459,65118,996 9.25
200210,35212,85523,207 22.17
200310,86612,33823,204 0.01
200413,38214,65928,041 20.85
200512,3066,42518,731 33.20
200613,3844,72918,113 3.30
200713,2686,45219,720 8.87
200812,6716,53519,206 2.61
200913,1957,78020,975 9.21
201017,43412,81030,244 44.19
201117,62710,68728,314 6.38
201218,79815,54134,339 21.28
201317,23417,38634,620 0.82
201417,65322,63140,284 16.36
201514,55222,82237,374 7.22
201614,67628,53843,214 5.73
201715,67037,52953,990 23.1
201815,86446,27462,138 15.09
201911,592 41,12052,712 15.17
20204,42910,79711,904 78.1
20212,1112,0984,209 64.64
20223,1523,3916,543 68.37
20234,69927,51832,217 330.71

Busiest international routes

Busiest international routes to and from Phuket International Airport (2019)[14]
RankAirport Passengers handledChange%
11,052,635 0.58%
2 Kuala Lumpur871,584 1.00%
3 Shanghai–Pudong760,864 1.64%
4 Hong Kong642,904 4.57%
5 Chengdu546,908 32.49%
6 Seoul–Incheon461,967 6.57%
7 Doha422,087 23.08%
8 Beijing-Capital412,213 4.58%
9 Dubai-International367,967 13.90%
10 Moscow-Sheremetyevo362,977 11.53%

Busiest domestic routes

Busiest domestic routes to and from Phuket Airport (2019)
RankAirport Passengers handledChange%
1Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi3,371,171 0.29%
2Bangkok–Don Mueang3,005,310 9.86%
3Chiang Mai415,771 12.23%
4Rayong-Pattaya-U-Tapao165,992 4.58%
5Koh Samui154,242 10.97%

Phuket Airport passenger totals (millions)

Incidents and accidents

External links


Notes and References

  1. Web site: International Aircraft Movement. XLSX. Aot.listedcompany.com. 15 August 2018.
  2. Web site: Air Transport Statistic. Airports of Thailand . 16 January 2024.
  3. News: Thailand, Singapore seen as top expat locations. Investvine.com. 7 February 2013. 19 February 2013.
  4. https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/P4787/history/20240713/1800Z/SAEZ/VTSP Flight P4787
  5. News: Kositchotethana. Boonsong. AoT airports set new record in passenger traffic. 1 February 2016. Bangkok Post. 2016-02-01.
  6. News: Kositchotethana. Boonsong. New terminal in Phuket set for test run. 4 February 2016. Bangkok Post. 2016-02-04.
  7. News: Phuket Magazine . 11 December 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120415032602/http://www.phuketmagazine.com/phukets-airport-expansion-set-to-start-in-november/ . 15 April 2012 . dead . dmy-all .
  8. Web site: Fly-Rail Link to 'Save Phuket Tourism' - Phuket Wan . 12 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120325135428/http://phuketwan.com/tourism/fly-rail-link-krabi-aims-save-phuket-tourism-choking-death-15531/ . 25 March 2012 . dead . dmy-all .
  9. Web site: Phang Nga - Andaman International Airport New Airport Profile CAPA . 2022-12-08 . centreforaviation.com.
  10. Web site: » New airport planned for Phangnga to serve southern tourism . 2022-12-08 . thaiembdc.org.
  11. Web site: Com . The Phuket News . 2019-11-26 . Phuket News: Deputy PM makes push for 'Phuket Airport No 2', in Phang Nga . 2022-12-08 . The Phuket News Com . en.
  12. Web site: Summary Report . Airport of Thailand . January 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131004232226/http://www.airportthai.co.th/ewtadmin85_aot/ewt/aot_web/download/about_us/Summary_report_2012.pdf . 4 October 2013 . dmy-all .
  13. News: Sritama. Suchat. Open-sky policy must continue, say airlines. 24 May 2015. The Sunday Nation. 2015-05-24.
  14. Web site: Annual Airport 2019 . . 31 August 2020.
  15. News: AirDisaster.Com Accident Database . https://web.archive.org/web/20090102201924/http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=04151985&reg=HS-TBB&airline=Thai+Airways . 2 January 2009 . Airdisaster.com. usurped . 18 September 2007.
  16. News: AirDisaster.Com Accident Database . https://web.archive.org/web/20090103045202/http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=08311987&reg=HS-TBC&airline=Thai+Airways. 3 January 2009. Airdisaster.com . usurped . 18 September 2007.