Phuket International Airport Expansion Set To Bring 12.5Mn Visitors

[webfact]

Phuket international airport expansion set to bring 12.5mn visitors

Phuket Gazette

Superjumbo passenger planes will be able to take advantage of a planned 700 meter extension to the current runway at Phuket’s airport

Deputy transport minister Kittisakdi Hathasongkorh in Phuket.

PHUKET International Airport (PIA) will be able to receive 12.5 million visitors per year by 2014 following a planned 5.7 billion-baht expansion, Thailand’s deputy transport minister told reporters during a recent visit to the island.

Kittisakdi Hathasongkorh said the airport’s runway would be lengthened by 700 meters to allow the new generation of “superjumbos”, the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8, to fly to the island from Europe.

Passenger-terminal capacity will also need to be expanded in order to cope with the larger arrival numbers projected over coming years, he said.

The plan to extend the runway was approved by the government and Airports of Thailand (AoT) in May 2008. Extending the runway is not expected to be a straightforward task. It is bounded at one end by the sea and at the other by jungle-covered hills. The project will therefore require either land reclamation in the sea or the leveling of the hills using explosives.

Mr Kittisakdi said there would need to be further public consultation to decide on the best approach.

He was speaking after receiving a tour of Phuket International Airport’s air-traffic control center.

The minister also discussed the island’s strategy for managing air traffic with related officials.

Present at the meeting were Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AEROTHAI) Managing Director Prajak Sajjasophon and Phuket Air Traffic Control chief Sompon Phetprasit.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle11903.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-01-05

[whybother]

It is bounded at one end by the sea and at the other by jungle-covered hills.

Jungle covered hills? From google earth, it looks more like a road.

Are they also planning the dual airbridges to cater for the A380?

Edited January 5, 2012 by whybother

[steelepulse]

It is bounded at one end by the sea and at the other by jungle-covered hills.

Jungle covered hills? From google earth, it looks more like a road.

Are they also planning the dual airbridges to cater for the A380?

Nevermind about those pesky details. Mai Pen Rai!

[LivinginKata]

It is bounded at one end by the sea and at the other by jungle-covered hills.

Jungle covered hills? From google earth, it looks more like a road.

Are they also planning the dual airbridges to cater for the A380?

The east end of the runway does rise up and there is a low hill at the east end, then on the other side of the hill is the main north/south highway.

Not sure why you query the dual airbridges. Can't remember seeing any jetways with 2 airbridges at Phuket. So even the few 747 that land here don't have a bridge to the second door.

[whybother]

It is bounded at one end by the sea and at the other by jungle-covered hills.

Jungle covered hills? From google earth, it looks more like a road.

Are they also planning the dual airbridges to cater for the A380?

The east end of the runway does rise up and there is a low hill at the east end, then on the other side of the hill is the main north/south highway.

Not sure why you query the dual airbridges. Can't remember seeing any jetways with 2 airbridges at Phuket. So even the few 747 that land here don't have a bridge to the second door.

Most (All?) of the airports that have upgraded to handle the A380 have also added air bridges to get to the second level of the plane. You don't really want 200+ passengers having to walk up/down the stairs inside the plane, and trying to get 400+ passengers in/out one door.

[LivinginKata]

Most (All?) of the airports that have upgraded to handle the A380 have also added air bridges to get to the second level of the plane. You don't really want 200+ passengers having to walk up/down the stairs inside the plane, and trying to get 400+ passengers in/out one door.

Right, fact of the matter is that Phuket airport has very few 747s to service, but as they are trying to attract A380 charters/flights then it's time to upgrade.

[whybother]

Most (All?) of the airports that have upgraded to handle the A380 have also added air bridges to get to the second level of the plane. You don't really want 200+ passengers having to walk up/down the stairs inside the plane, and trying to get 400+ passengers in/out one door.

Right, fact of the matter is that Phuket airport has very few 747s to service, but as they are trying to attract A380 charters/flights then it's time to upgrade.

If they don't get many 747s, I don't think they'll be getting many A380s. It doesn't seem like it would be worth the investment to handle one A380 a week.

[LivinginKata]

If they don't get many 747s, I don't think they'll be getting many A380s. It doesn't seem like it would be worth the investment to handle one A380 a week.

Ah ... but that's why they are extending the runway length allowing landings by the larger 747 and A380. Need the longer runway AND the dual bridges. makes sense to me. Now ... all the have to do is improve car/taxi/bus parking space.

[whybother]

Ah ... but that's why they are extending the runway length allowing landings by the larger 747 and A380. Need the longer runway AND the dual bridges. makes sense to me. Now ... all the have to do is improve car/taxi/bus parking space.

Especially with the extra cars/buses/taxis needed to cater for 400+ passengers arriving/departing at once (in addition to any other flights).

[visions]

The only thing that REALLY matters..........is the amount of graft to be shared out. The pax/aircraft figures can be doctored to suit the occasion.

The extensions will allow Extra visitors by 2014?????????? And no body has even considered which end of the runway to extend??? Yeah right' Another Thai Dream.

Like the Chinese proposed high speed rail link running Beijing to KL. Thai Govt in its wisdom switches the NakonRatchasima./NongKai stretch across to Chaingmai, thereby cutting the link to a market of millions of tourists, and untold trade/freight opportunities. TiT Unbelievable.

[stevehaigh]

It is bounded at one end by the sea and at the other by jungle-covered hills.

Jungle covered hills? From google earth, it looks more like a road.

Are they also planning the dual airbridges to cater for the A380?

Nevermind about those pesky details. Mai Pen Rai!

they can park the plane way out in the middle of nowhere and then use tuk tuks to ferry the 500+ passengers to the terminal, all for a small fee of 500b/passenger

Edited January 5, 2012 by stevehaigh

[siamdivers]

What are we going to do with another six million people a year? We have budget to bring more people in, but no budget to buy trash disposal or water treatment facilities. So much for those green hills, they will soon be a thing of the past and Phuket will look like Hong Kong.

[RogueLeader]

"...set to bring 12.5mn visitors"

"PHUKET International Airport (PIA) will be able to receive 12.5 million visitors per year by 2014..."

Complacent much?

[HaleySabai]

hey can park the plane way out in the middle of nowhere and then use tuk tuks to ferry the 500+ passengers to the terminal, all for a small fee of 500b/passenger

Ya,welcome to Phuket ladies and gentlemen your "authentic" Thai - holiday starts NOW

[Tanaka]

Minutes from meeting with Phuket Authorities.

Chairman Somchai: How can we increase the numbers of foreign wallets, sorry, visitors?

Poomchai: Maybe if we extend the runway at the airport?

Somchai: Excellent idea! That would automatically bring in millions more visitors each year.

Poomchai: But there is the question of the need for more infrastructure with more visitors?

Somchai: No problem. Just increase the number of tuktuks. That should solve it.

Poomchai: But we have not solved the problems with sewage from the new hotels?

Somchai: No problem. We shall require all tourists to bring their own plastic bags to use in the bathrooms. And when they are filled, they just empty them on the beach. And reuse the bags, not leave them on the beach. Think about the environment. Problem solved.

I will talk to the airport people. Any more questions or we can go and eat?

Meeting finished.

[rheinwiese]

A 380 in Phuket?

Ain't gonna happen unless they rebuilt the entire airport.

Even if they extend the runway, this bird is simply too big to serve such a small, narrow and single-runway airport

Some examples of the works that airports may need to carry out before the A380 enters service

-Runway width of 60m (currently 37.50m in HKT)

-Separation distances between runways, taxiways and nearest obstacles must meet the international norms specified for A380 operations.

-Other modification works will include the widening of runway shoulders as well as runway-taxiway and taxiway-taxiway intersections on each side to allow the A380 aircraft to operate safely.

-The aircraft pavements at runway-taxiway and taxiway-taxiway intersections must be widened to allow pilots to manoeuvre the aircraft safely at the turns.

-As the A380 aircraft is wider and heavier than the Boeing 747-400 the airfield must be modified to the design requirements of the ICAO for Code F aircraft.

-Gate holdrooms must be modified to accommodate larger number of passengers.

-Baggage claim carousels serving A380 flights must be extended to accommodate more luggage.

-The airport needs to adapt their airside infrastructure. Upgrading runways, and taxiways, relocating taxiways and even relocating aircraft stands and buildings to provide sufficient wingtip clearance, are examples of the works that airports may need to carry out before the A380 enters service.

[RogueLeader]

Minutes from meeting with Phuket Authorities.

Chairman Somchai: How can we increase the numbers of foreign wallets, sorry, visitors?

Poomchai: Maybe if we extend the runway at the airport?

Somchai: Excellent idea! That would automatically bring in millions more visitors each year.

Poomchai: But there is the question of the need for more infrastructure with more visitors?

Somchai: No problem. Just increase the number of tuktuks. That should solve it.

Poomchai: But we have not solved the problems with sewage from the new hotels?

Somchai: No problem. We shall require all tourists to bring their own plastic bags to use in the bathrooms. And when they are filled, they just empty them on the beach. And reuse the bags, not leave them on the beach. Think about the environment. Problem solved.

I will talk to the airport people. Any more questions or we can go and eat?

Meeting finished.

In a nutshell. +1000000000 internets.

[bkk_mike]

What are we going to do with another six million people a year? We have budget to bring more people in, but no budget to buy trash disposal or water treatment facilities. So much for those green hills, they will soon be a thing of the past and Phuket will look like Hong Kong.

The hills in Hong Kong are pretty green actually. - Aside from the Peak and mid-levels, most of the hills in Hong Kong don't have a lot of buildings on them. (as it's cheaper to reclaim land from the sea/Victoria Harbour than build on steep hillsides.)

[alant]

A 380 in Phuket?

Ain't gonna happen unless they rebuilt the entire airport.

Even if they extend the runway, this bird is simply too big to serve such a small, narrow and single-runway airport

Some examples of the works that airports may need to carry out before the A380 enters service

-Runway width of 60m (currently 37.50m in HKT)

-Separation distances between runways, taxiways and nearest obstacles must meet the international norms specified for A380 operations.

-Other modification works will include the widening of runway shoulders as well as runway-taxiway and taxiway-taxiway intersections on each side to allow the A380 aircraft to operate safely.

-The aircraft pavements at runway-taxiway and taxiway-taxiway intersections must be widened to allow pilots to manoeuvre the aircraft safely at the turns.

-As the A380 aircraft is wider and heavier than the Boeing 747-400 the airfield must be modified to the design requirements of the ICAO for Code F aircraft.

-Gate holdrooms must be modified to accommodate larger number of passengers.

-Baggage claim carousels serving A380 flights must be extended to accommodate more luggage.

-The airport needs to adapt their airside infrastructure. Upgrading runways, and taxiways, relocating taxiways and even relocating aircraft stands and buildings to provide sufficient wingtip clearance, are examples of the works that airports may need to carry out before the A380 enters service.

you would think so but TiT

[crusader79]

That island is so crowded no one goes there anymore.

[whybother]

That island is so crowded no one goes there anymore.

If no one goes there anymore, it should be quite empty.

[siamdivers]

What are we going to do with another six million people a year? We have budget to bring more people in, but no budget to buy trash disposal or water treatment facilities. So much for those green hills, they will soon be a thing of the past and Phuket will look like Hong Kong.

The hills in Hong Kong are pretty green actually. - Aside from the Peak and mid-levels, most of the hills in Hong Kong don't have a lot of buildings on them. (as it's cheaper to reclaim land from the sea/Victoria Harbour than build on steep hillsides.)

Not my intention to dog Hong Kong. :-) Hong Kong is a lovely city. Phuket's supposed to be an island resort, but as usual, I am living in the past. Silly me.

[siamdivers]

That island is so crowded no one goes there anymore.

If no one goes there anymore, it should be quite empty.

No one comes here any more. Yeah, right. Someone should tell that to all the people who were here over the holidays and are still here now, almost 100% hotel occupancy and that looks to continue until at least mid-February. I have in my 24 years here never seen so many tourists, and they were everywhere, not just in the 'popular' beaches. Even Rawai, a fairly residential area, was completely full. We even had a rave party on the beach in Karon on New Year's eve. The place was hoppin', it looked like Waikiki Beach or some Greek Island teen-scene. Next there will be a "Spring Holiday" movie made about the place, then we'll really be on the map. Whew.

I don't know where we're going to put any more people, the infrastructure is a heck of a lot better than it was even before the tsunami, but they are not keeping up with the growth. Undoubtedly, some people must like it here. It's now the playground of Southeast Asia. And the government thinks the more the merrier. I say enough is enough.

[wxyz]

this just in, the sky whale A380s may be grounded

[wotaplonker]

That island is so crowded no one goes there anymore.

If no one goes there anymore, it should be quite empty.

No one comes here any more. Yeah, right. Someone should tell that to all the people who were here over the holidays and are still here now, almost 100% hotel occupancy and that looks to continue until at least mid-February. I have in my 24 years here never seen so many tourists, and they were everywhere, not just in the 'popular' beaches. Even Rawai, a fairly residential area, was completely full. We even had a rave party on the beach in Karon on New Year's eve. The place was hoppin', it looked like Waikiki Beach or some Greek Island teen-scene. Next there will be a "Spring Holiday" movie made about the place, then we'll really be on the map. Whew.

I don't know where we're going to put any more people, the infrastructure is a heck of a lot better than it was even before the tsunami, but they are not keeping up with the growth. Undoubtedly, some people must like it here. It's now the playground of Southeast Asia. And the government thinks the more the merrier. I say enough is enough.

ive just recently returned from a stay at kata beach area, there seemed to be quire a lot of new units/shops/condos etc going up

the place was quite busy, but millions more??, you wouldnt be able to see the sand on the beaches. where are all these numbers

going to stay, ok you have you trips out to the islands, phang na, waterfalls etc but fundamentally most folks go for the major

beach areas i presume? did anyone say Blackpool?

cheers wap

[blackthorn2005]

"...set to bring 12.5mn visitors", enough, is enough I'm outta here. Cambodia here I come.