INCREASING numbers of passengers and complaints about conditions have forced Airports of Thailand to order low-season improvements at Phuket International Airport.
In a statement released after the AoT board met on Phuket yesterday and saw the airport for themselves, a range of quick-fix solutions were offered.
Arriving and departing processes will be made easier and, as Phuketwan has already reported, the toilets are to be renovated. The carousel system will gain attention, along with the check-in process and docking for aircraft.
The chairs in departure lounges will be made more comfortable and the international smoking room is to be upgraded.
As Phuketwan has reported, catching a flight on time at Phuket International Airport has become a lottery. Earlier this year, one journalist who arrived 90 minutes before a short hop to Singapore had to endure four queues, the first outside the airport to get in, and narrowly made the flight.
Other passengers say their arrivals or departures have been smooth and hassle-free. What makes the process a lottery is the uncertainty of jet arrival and departure times, which are usually in the hands of the airlines, not AoT.
Figures released in the AoT statement say that 36 airlines now use Phuket, 31 regular service brands and five charter brands. It's possible to fly from Phuket to 60 destinations in 23 countries.
The number of passenger arrivals and departures burst through the seven million barrier in 2010 and is expected to nudge eight million this year.
The AoT said passenger numbers had increased 11.97 percent in the six months between October 2010 and March 2011, with flights up 13.94 percent.
International comings and goings are increasing more rapidly, rising by 30.68 percent in the same period.
Construction is to begin in earnest in November on a major expansion costing as much as six billion baht that will increase Phuket's ability to cope with the number of arrivals and departures to at least 12.5 million.
This figure is often misread as meaning that Phuket will be able to handle 12.5 million visitors when the number is actually half that - about 6.25 million passengers, arriving then departing.
Former Suvarnabhumi director Niran Thiranartsin is due to become chairman of AoT from tomorrow.
November Start Set for Phuket Airport MakeoverIn a statement released after the AoT board met on Phuket yesterday and saw the airport for themselves, a range of quick-fix solutions were offered.
Arriving and departing processes will be made easier and, as Phuketwan has already reported, the toilets are to be renovated. The carousel system will gain attention, along with the check-in process and docking for aircraft.
The chairs in departure lounges will be made more comfortable and the international smoking room is to be upgraded.
As Phuketwan has reported, catching a flight on time at Phuket International Airport has become a lottery. Earlier this year, one journalist who arrived 90 minutes before a short hop to Singapore had to endure four queues, the first outside the airport to get in, and narrowly made the flight.
Other passengers say their arrivals or departures have been smooth and hassle-free. What makes the process a lottery is the uncertainty of jet arrival and departure times, which are usually in the hands of the airlines, not AoT.
Figures released in the AoT statement say that 36 airlines now use Phuket, 31 regular service brands and five charter brands. It's possible to fly from Phuket to 60 destinations in 23 countries.
The number of passenger arrivals and departures burst through the seven million barrier in 2010 and is expected to nudge eight million this year.
The AoT said passenger numbers had increased 11.97 percent in the six months between October 2010 and March 2011, with flights up 13.94 percent.
International comings and goings are increasing more rapidly, rising by 30.68 percent in the same period.
Construction is to begin in earnest in November on a major expansion costing as much as six billion baht that will increase Phuket's ability to cope with the number of arrivals and departures to at least 12.5 million.
This figure is often misread as meaning that Phuket will be able to handle 12.5 million visitors when the number is actually half that - about 6.25 million passengers, arriving then departing.
Former Suvarnabhumi director Niran Thiranartsin is due to become chairman of AoT from tomorrow.
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The journalist might have avoided at least one of the queues easily. If I want to catch a flight in Phuket I always enter the building on ground floor (arrival). Normally there is no queue at all. Up the stairs and I can enjoy my quick access to boarding...
Posted by Fritz Pinguin on April 30, 2011 13:02