Phuket International Airport

Phuket International Airport Template:Airport codes is an international airport serving the island province of Phuket in southern Thailand. It is located Template:Cvt north of the city of 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.<ref name=phuketfig13> Template:Cite news</ref>

Facilities

Terminals

Inside the domestic terminal in 2019

Thai Airways Boeing 747-400 departing from Phuket International Airport

A view from Mai Khao beach with a Thai Airways Airbus A330-300 landing at Phuket International Airport's runway 09

Runway 09, with Mai Khao beach in the foreground

Phuket International Airport (original) in 2010

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. 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.<ref name="BP-20160201">Template:Cite news</ref> This expansion of the new international terminal increased its capacity to handle 12.5 million passengers annually.<ref name="BP-20160204">Template:Cite news</ref> Overall, the expansion enhanced the airport's total capacity from 6.5 million to 20 million passengers per year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Future

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Traffic statistics

Phuket is a favorite tourist destination in the region. International passengers mainly come from Asia Pacific and Europe.<ref name="Airportstats">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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).<ref name="BP-20160201" />

Passenger movements

Year	Domestic	International	Total	Change%
1995	1,730,895	919,503	2,650,398	Template:Increase 9.68
1996	1,896,068	879,688	2,775,756	Template:Increase 4.73
1997	1,898,303	942,336	2,840,639	Template:Increase 2.34
1998	2,132,108	1,010,606	3,142,714	Template:Increase 10.63
1999	2,035,836	1,189,895	3,225,731	Template:Increase 2.64
2000	2,171,146	1,358,745	3,541,575	Template:Increase 9.43
2001	2,240,264	1,370,429	3,610,693	Template:Increase 2.29
2002	2,230,663	1,382,858	3,613,521	Template:Increase 0.08
2003	2,104,548	1,496,401	3,600,949	Template:Decrease 0.35
2004	2,826,022	2,024,879	4,850,901	Template:Increase 34.71
2005	2,246,723	922,311	3,169,034	Template:Decrease 34.67
2006	3,032,976	1,677,723	4,710,699	Template:Increase 48.65
2007	3,513,966	2,190,399	5,704,365	Template:Increase 21.09
2008	3,321,443	2,409,305	5,703,748	Template:Increase 0.46
2009	3,489,012	2,290,906	5,779,918	Template:Increase 0.86
2010	3,701,427	3,342,356	7,043,783	Template:Increase 21.87
2011	4,097,276	4,370,719	8,467,995	Template:Increase 20.22
2012	4,475,624	5,065,928	9,541,552	Template:Increase 12.68
2013	4,958,880	6,383,611	11,342,491	Template:Increase 18.87
2014	4,976,451	6,425,047	11,401,498	Template:Increase 0.52
2015	5,909,356	6,950,000	12,859,356	Template:Increase 12.8
2016	6,997,879	8,109,306	15,107,185	Template:Increase 17.48
2017	7,655,579	9,200,058	16,855,637	Template:Increase 11.6
2018	7,817,894	10,403,631	18,221,525	Template:Increase 8.1
2019	7,452,262	10,666,178	18,118,440	Template:Decrease 0.57
2020	2,332,349	3,155,264	5,429,708	Template:Decrease 70.0
2021	1,502,356	287,481	1,789,837	Template:Decrease 67.04
2022	4,659,672	3,155,264	7,814,936	Template:Increase 336.63%
2023	6,262,326	7,716,858	13,979,184	Template:Increase 78.88%
2024	6,641,912	10,573,403	17,215,315	Template:Increase 18.75%

Aircraft movements

Year	Domestic	International	Total	Change%
1995	11,135	9,380	20,515	Template:Increase 6.79
1996	11,586	9,626	21,212	Template:Increase 3.40
1997	11,402	10,257	21,659	Template:Increase 2.11
1998	9,673	10,272	19,945	Template:Decrease 7.91
1999	9,391	11,887	21,278	Template:Increase 6.68
2000	11,850	11,472	23,322	Template:Increase 9.61
2001	12,705	12,467	25,172	Template:Increase 7.93
2002	10,920	12,248	23,168	Template:Decrease 7.96
2003	12,669	12,015	24,684	Template:Increase 6.54
2004	16,765	15,917	32,682	Template:Increase 32.40
2005	14,115	9,970	24,085	Template:Decrease 26.30
2006	17,207	13,680	30,887	Template:Increase 28.24
2007	23,915	16,884	40,799	Template:Increase 32.09
2008	20,814	17,177	37,991	Template:Decrease 6.88
2009	20,883	16,987	37,870	Template:Decrease 0.32
2010	25,311	23,257	48,568	Template:Increase 28.25
2011	27,932	28,741	56,673	Template:Increase 16.69
2012	28,578	32,426	61,004	Template:Increase 7.64
2013	32,370	40,219	72,589	Template:Increase 18.99
2014	35,096	40,878	75,974	Template:Increase 4.66
2015	40,762	43,996	84,758	Template:Increase 16.1
2016	48,883	48,930	97,813	Template:Increase 15.4
2017	52,609	53,484	106,093	Template:Increase 8.5
2018	54,514	63,766	118,280	Template:Increase 11.49
2019	50,409	65,167	115,576	Template:Decrease 2.29
2020	25,505	13,343	38,848	Template:Decrease 66.4
2021	14,347	4,177	18,524	Template:Decrease 52.32
2022	36,033	21,436	57,469	Template:Increase 57,469
2023	44,080	43,224	87,304	Template:Increase 51.91
2024	46,369	57,306	103,675	Template:Increase 23.15

Freight tonnage

Year	Domestic	International	Total	Change%
1995	5,659	5,021	10,680	Template:Increase 198.16
1996	7,994	5,620	13,614	Template:Increase 27.47
1997	8,285	7,522	15,807	Template:Increase 16.11
1998	8,213	7,683	15,896	Template:Increase 0.56
1999	10,963	11,455	22,418	Template:Increase 41.03
2000	9,841	11,091	20,932	Template:Decrease 6.63
2001	9,345	9,651	18,996	Template:Decrease 9.25
2002	10,352	12,855	23,207	Template:Increase 22.17
2003	10,866	12,338	23,204	Template:Increase 0.01
2004	13,382	14,659	28,041	Template:Increase 20.85
2005	12,306	6,425	18,731	Template:Decrease 33.20
2006	13,384	4,729	18,113	Template:Decrease 3.30
2007	13,268	6,452	19,720	Template:Increase 8.87
2008	12,671	6,535	19,206	Template:Decrease 2.61
2009	13,195	7,780	20,975	Template:Increase 9.21
2010	17,434	12,810	30,244	Template:Increase 44.19
2011	17,627	10,687	28,314	Template:Decrease 6.38
2012	18,798	15,541	34,339	Template:Increase 21.28
2013	17,234	17,386	34,620	Template:Increase 0.82
2014	17,653	22,631	40,284	Template:Increase 16.36
2015	14,552	22,822	37,374	Template:Decrease 7.22
2016	14,676	28,538	43,214	Template:Decrease 5.73
2017	15,670	37,529	53,990	Template:Increase 23.1
2018	15,864	46,274	62,138	Template:Increase 15.09
2019	11,592	41,120	52,712	Template:Decrease 15.17
2020	4,429	10,797	11,904	Template:Decrease 78.1
2021	2,111	2,098	4,209	Template:Decrease 64.64
2022	3,152	3,391	6,543	Template:Decrease 68.37
2023	4,699	27,518	32,217	Template:Increase 330.71
2024	4,549	53,106	57,655	Template:Increase 78.96

Busiest international routes

Busiest international routes to and from Phuket International Airport (2019)<ref name="stats">Template:Cite web</ref>

Rank	Airport	Passengers handled	Change%
1	Template:Flagicon Singapore	1,052,635	Template:Decrease 0.58%
2	Template:Flagicon Kuala Lumpur–International	871,584	Template:Increase 1.00%
3	Template:Flagicon Shanghai–Pudong	760,864	Template:Decrease 1.64%
4	Template:Flagicon Hong Kong	642,904	Template:Decrease 4.57%
5	Template:Flagicon Chengdu–Shuangliu	546,908	Template:Increase 32.49%
6	Template:Flagicon Seoul–Incheon	461,967	Template:Increase 6.57%
7	Template:Flagicon Doha	422,087	Template:Increase 23.08%
8	Template:Flagicon Beijing–Capital	412,213	Template:Increase 4.58%
9	Template:Flagicon Dubai–International	367,967	Template:Decrease 13.90%
10	Template:Flagicon Moscow–Sheremetyevo	362,977	Template:Increase 11.53%

Busiest domestic routes

Busiest domestic routes to and from Phuket Airport (2019)<ref name="stats"/>

Rank	Airport	Passengers handled	Change%
1	Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi	3,371,171	Template:Increase 0.29%
2	Bangkok–Don Mueang	3,005,310	Template:Decrease 9.86%
3	Chiang Mai	415,771	Template:Decrease 12.23%
4	Pattaya	165,992	Template:Increase 4.58%
5	Koh Samui	154,242	Template:Decrease 10.97%

Incidents and accidents

• 15 April 1985: A Thai Airways Company Boeing 737-200 (registered HS-TBB) crashed, killing all 11 people on board. The crew had issued a radio call informing air traffic control that both engines had flamed out. No cause could be determined for the engine shutdown.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• 31 August 1987: Thai Airways Flight 365, a Boeing 737-200 (registered HS-TBC) from Hat Yai International Airport crashed into the ocean upon final approach, killing all 83 people on board. The investigation determined pilot error as the primary cause.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• 16 September 2007: One-Two-Go Airlines Flight 269 arriving on a scheduled flight from Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport crashed after hitting the runway while attempting to land in driving rain and severe wind shear. The McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (registered HS-OMG) slid off the runway, split into two, and exploded into flames after an apparent attempt to execute a go-around moments before touchdown. There were 123 passengers and seven crew on board; 89 died and 40 were injured.Template:Citation needed

External links

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• Official website
• Template:NWS-current
• Template:ASN