PHUKET AIRPORT EXPANSION Inside The Numbers

While it's altogether too easy to only view the prevailing 'one day at a time' in the present day crazy life of the island's tourism prospects, it's important to stop looking at our feet and take a broader view of the horizon.
One of the key long term growth generators is the current expansion work at Phuket International Airport (PIA). The current 3 year program which is targeting completion in 2013 will see passenger capacity doubled from the current 6.5 million to 12.5 million.
With a project cost of over THB 5.7 billion a new international terminal will be added, along with multi-story parking lot with a capacity of over 1000 vehicles. Six new gates will be constructed and a concession for a private jet facility similar to that recently unveiled at Don Muang Airport in Bangkok set to operate.
Long term infrastructure projects such as the airport upgrading, the new Sarasin bridge off the island and continued expansion of key roadways through the core center of Phuket look towards a future in which increasing capacity will help fill the growing number of hotel rooms.