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Phuket's airport in need of a makeover and improvements

Phuket Airport Update 'to Start in October'

Tuesday, June 21, 2011
PHUKET: Major reconstruction of Phuket International Airport will start in October, the airport's new deputy director, Sub-Lieutenant Thanee Choochong, told Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha today.

The airport's redesign should be completed next month, he said at a meeting with the governor at Provincial Hall in Phuket City.

The decision had been made to demolish the staff housing, which should allow the capacity of the airport to be increased from 12.5 million a year to 15 million a year in the six billion baht renovation.

The redesign for the airport had taken three months longer than anticipated because stakeholders - including Immigration and Customs - all wanted to have a say in how the airport could be improved.

Khun Thanee said that the makeover would lift standards at Phuket to match those of Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok. A construction firm had been chosen, he added.

Changes had already begun in the present terminal, with improvements being made to escalators and toilet facilities.

Khun Thanee agreed that more space needed to be allocated so buses could pull up close to the terminal, saving arriving visitors the hardship of hauling bags across the Phuket car park.

He said that the makeover should also reduce the amount of signage in the arrivals hall around carousels that obscured important Customs and Immigration notices.

Airports of Thailand has previously reported 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.
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Comments

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"Redesign will be finished next month ....... A construction firm been chosen".

Usually, a construction firm would need the final specification in order to bid a project.

Posted by GiantFan on June 21, 2011 19:02

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Good planning to start the construction right in time for the next high season. And I hope Phuket will not go down to the level of Suvarnabhumi...

Posted by Fritz Pinguin on June 22, 2011 10:10

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Even in Singapore the MRT was not extended to Changi airport until there were enough people working there to support the service. Most travelers with luggage do not want to carry it onboard a train and then have to get from a station to their hotel. They would rather take a Taxi or other door to door service. There is almost no potential traffic from the airport to Phuket town other than some airport workers. We need an extra highway to the north more than anything.

Posted by JohnB on June 22, 2011 12:01


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