Phuket International Airport Information

Phuket International Airport has a rich history and has become a crucial gateway to Thailand’s largest island. Here’s an overview of its past, present, and future:

History

Phuket’s aviation history dates back to the early 1930s when the island’s first airstrip was constructed in what is now Phuket Town. Initially serving as a military base during World War II, it later became a civilian airport.

The airport’s development accelerated in the 1980s when the Thai government recognized Phuket’s potential as a major tourist destination. Significant investments were made to expand and upgrade the facility

Key milestones include:

1988: The airport officially opened on October 9^th.
1990s: Construction of a new international terminal.
2000s: Runway extensions and domestic terminal upgrades.
2010s: Opening of a new domestic terminal and expansion of international facilities.
2016: A new terminal opened in mid-September, increasing capacity from 6.5 to 12.5 million passengers per year.

Current Data

As of January 2025, Phuket International Airport handled 2.0 million passengers, showing a 22.1% year-on-year increase. Of these, 670,716 were domestic passengers (+11.5% year-on-year) .

The airport now has three main terminals:

International Terminal (Terminal 1)
Domestic Terminal (Terminal 2 or 3)
Terminal X (for charter flights)

Popular Flight Routes

While specific route data is not available, here’s a table of some of the busiest destinations based on the airport’s status as a major tourist hub:

Rank	Domestic Routes	International Routes
1	Bangkok	Singapore
2	Chiang Mai	Hong Kong
3	Hat Yai	Kuala Lumpur
4	Udon Thani	Seoul
5	Krabi	Dubai

Future Outlook

Phuket International Airport continues to grow and adapt to increasing passenger volumes. Some key points for its future include:

Capacity expansion: The airport is likely to continue expanding to meet growing demand, as it has already surpassed its designed capacity of 12.5 million passengers per year.
Technology integration: Expect further adoption of modern technology to enhance passenger experience and streamline operations.
Sustainability initiatives: As with many airports worldwide, Phuket International Airport may focus on implementing more environmentally friendly practices.
Economic impact: The airport’s growth will continue to play a crucial role in Phuket’s tourism industry and overall economic development.
Infrastructure improvements: Ongoing upgrades to runways, terminals, and surrounding infrastructure are likely to accommodate larger aircraft and more passengers.

As Phuket remains a popular tourist destination, its international airport will undoubtedly continue to evolve and expand to meet the needs of travelers and support the region’s economic growth.

Passengers Statistics

This table shows the passenger traffic at Phuket International Airport from 2010 to 2024, including domestic and international passengers, total passengers, and the year-on-year change in percentage.

Year	Domestic Pass.	International Pass.	Total Pass.	Year-on-Year Change
2010	3,701,427	3,342,356	7,043,783	Increase 21.87%
2011	4,097,276	4,370,719	8,467,995	Increase 20.22%
2012	4,475,624	5,065,928	9,541,552	Increase 12.68%
2013	4,958,880	6,383,611	11,342,491	Increase 18.87%
2014	4,976,451	6,425,047	11,401,498	Increase 0.52%
2015	5,909,356	6,950,000	12,859,356	Increase 12.8%
2016	6,997,879	8,109,306	15,107,185	Increase 17.48%
2017	7,655,579	9,200,058	16,855,637	Increase 11.6%
2018	7,817,894	10,403,631	18,221,525	Increase 8.1%
2019	7,452,262	10,666,178	18,118,440	Decrease 0.57%
2020	2,332,349	3,155,264	5,429,708	Decrease 70.0%
2021	1,502,356	287,481	1,789,837	Decrease 67.04%
2022	4,659,672	3,155,264	7,814,936	Increase 336.63%
2023	6,262,326	7,716,858	13,979,184	Increase 78.88%
2024	6,641,912	10,573,403	17,215,315	Increase 18.75%