PHUKET: The capacity of Phuket International Airport has been lifted to a theoretical 20 million passengers by adaptation and improved efficiency, it was revealed today.

Airport general manager Prathuang Somkhom is probably the man who can take credit - or blame - for following the mantra ''more tourists, more income'' for Phuket.

His aim is to boost the island's economy by turning a facility that just a few weeks ago had a maximum capacity of 12.5 million into something capable of delivering an extra 7.5 million.

Phuket remains a popular spot, with a survey of Chinese recently placing it only behind Hong Kong as a favored destination.

''Even if changes to China's laws to protect tourists slows the rise in traffic, the airlines are desperate to protect their slots,'' Khun Prathuang said today.

''They do not want to lose the access they have to Phuket. Airlines have told me they are prepared to fly half-full to Phuket.

''Everyone expects the boom to resume.''

The marriage between the little island that could and its overworked airport has been tempestuous, with coming and going tourists thrust into a facility built for a much less busy era.

Now the new terminals are rising, unlocking one of the secrets of the remarkable increase in passenger capacity.

X-terminal, conceived as a temporary structure to relieve pressure from charter flights and group tours, is to be retained.

A new international terminal is also under construction and the existing obsolete bulding is to be remodelled as a domestic terminal.

X-terminal has a 2015 completion date while the new international and domestic terminals will be ready in 2017.

Khun Prathuang's plan includes joining the domestic and international terminals and utilising the space for still more passengers.

But that's just part of it.

''A lot of Phuket's potential to grow hinges around the parking bays,'' he said. ''If a flight can land and turn around in just 20 minutes, we have done a good job.''

So a great deal of attention has turned towards lifting the number arrivals and departures to a heightened pitch.

And yes, there could well be some unhappy neighbors as the flights extend on into the early hours of the morning.

Khun Prathuang is engaged in talks with locals to settle on better conditions and compensation if sleep becomes too disturbed.

Meanwhile, back at the airport, he's banking on upping the number of flights that arrive each day from 115-120 to about 200.

''I should also make the point that airlines need to understand that Krabi is not far from Phuket and that it's actually closer for passengers who want to enjoy Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay,'' Khun Prathuang said.

While Phuket airport is overcrowded, Krabi's perfect airport caters to just a fraction of its capacity.

People said at the time that the 2004 tsunami made Phuket a household destination around the world, and it's true.

Even though other places suffered far more deaths and destruction, it was Phuket that became associated with the big wave.

Now the rush of tourists is causing questions to be asked about the sustainability of Phuket with development racing ahead and the beaches and reefs under intensifying pressure.

For Khun Prathuang, though, every extra bum on every extra seat is an economic bonus for Phuket. It doesn't do AoT any harm, either.