|
B5bn upgrade for Phuket Airport |
|
Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) is preparing to invest five billion baht to expand Phuket International Airport where congestion is approaching a critical level. The expansion will raise the capacity of the country's second busiest airport to 11.5 million passengers a year, six million international and 5.5 million domestic, from the current annual limit of 6.5 million, once completed in 2010. The plan involves a new international passenger terminal, the upgrade of the domestic terminal, construction of additional taxiways and parking space for 11 more aircraft, up from eight currently. Passenger throughput in Phuket last year reached 5.47 million, 22.6% higher than in the previous year, while aircraft movements rose 32.3% to 38,386. This year, AoT projects a 9.5% rise in passenger throughput to six million, with aircraft traffic, both take-offs and landings, increasing 7% to 41,000. Between March and October, Phuket serves 27 scheduled airlines and 11 charter flight operators, with average daily plane movements of 120.
Congestion at the airport, especially during the high season from late
October to April, has been a subject of complaints by international
tourists, mostly from Europe, who flock to the southern resort island.
|
|
Bangkok Post, 29.05.2008 |
