EXPECT disruptions as Phuket International Airport undergoes the major expansion that will lift its capacity to be able to handle 12.5 million arriving and departing passengers a year.

The President of Airports of Thailand, Serirat Prasutanond, said today that it might be possible to expand still further, but 15 million would be the upward limit because the airport perimeter was finite.

He was speaking at a special seminar at Central Festival Phuket. To grow to 15 million, existing staff quarters at the southern edge of the airport would need to be demolished.

The size of the airport represents a key brake on how fast and how far Phuket can develop.

Today's seminar was an attempt to listen to people on Phuket before construction begins in 2011, with a development firm yet to be chosen.

The enlargement would be finished in March, 2014. The existing terminal will become the domestic terminal and a new international terminal will be built.

Methee Tanmanatragul, former President of the Southern Chapter of the Thai Hotels Association, put in a plea for Phuket's new airport to be built to top international standards.

The 5.8 billion baht airport should be complete in March 2014, Khun Serirat said.

Tourism industry leaders have urged a strategy to be devised for Phuket's future to match the growth of Phuket to the upwards limits of the airport.