Phuket airport bus route to be extended to Kata

Tanyaluk Sakoot

The inscription on the side of the buses includes Karon and Kata but up to now they have never ventured beyond Patong for fear of the buses being attacked by territorial taxi drivers.

PHUKET: Acting swiftly following the crackdown on taxi crime in Kata-Karon area, Phuket Airport Express Bus Co is expected to extend its route soon from Patong to Karon and Kata, with a fare from the airport to Kata of B150.

At the moment the bus service, which started in July last year, runs from the airport only as far as Patong, because taxi drivers in Kata and Karon – many of them now in custody – noted chillingly at that time that “the last time they tried this the bus was damaged and the driver was hurt”.

The company owner, Prakob Panyawai, told The Phuket News this afternoon, “I have talked with Governor Maitri Inthusut and Teerayut Prasertpon, the head of the Phuket Transportation Department.

“Officials and I are making plans to avoid any of the problems that happened in the past with local people. That’s because we need a bus stop in the area. The plan must also include local police providing security.

“The original service agreement [before the service was launched] included a route that went [from the airport] to Kata,” Mr Prakob said.

-- Phuket News 2014-06-11

Interesting times ahead ......

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Put an armed soldier on the bus with the license to shoot to maim.

Ought to sort the thieving little --------s out.

This public transport is desperately needed. Any attempts to intimidate the owners into abandoning this route should be met with the full force of the law. Best of luck to these courageous people.

Best of luck

but wont hold my breath

question, Can someone "hop" on the bus in Patong when it stops and ride over to Karon/Kata? I assume NO

or can you only get on at the airport?

I am pretty sure that's the idea: You will be able to go to Kata and Karon from Patong and come back (or vice versa). We in Patong have been waiting decades for this.

Put an armed soldier on every bus ! What an excellent idea, this is the only sort of policing that the Taxis will respect.

The army should place a soldier on each bus. If they are intimidated by a taxi driver, the soldier should be instructed to ask the driver to vacate his car, at gunpoint if necessary, and put a hand grenade inside the taxi, and blow it up. Maybe they will learn that the softies are gone. Since the Phuket mayors, governor, and all the others could do nothing to stop the insect gangs, maybe the army can? A full show of force may be what it takes.

Is this bus and have it been on a regular route daily since last year or is this only another attempt?

It takes a coup...

This bus route is a great improvement. I used to stay at Kata Beach and although I like the regular

buses that go to Phuket Town from Kata, it will be nice to have one that will go to the airport.

In reference to the Military, I have heard on another news story that the bosses and execs of Thai Airways]

will not be able to fly for free anymore. If they are getting an adequate wage, then they should be able to pay their own way. I am in support of the Military and what they had to do.

All in all I still love coming to Thailand and spending a part of the Winter away from the -30c temps

of the Canadian Winter.

Next allow...and PROTECT.. about 100 or so songtaews to do a loop around patong beach similar to pattaya for 20

baht fares and watch how quickly the taxi ripoffs will disappear.

Is this bus and have it been on a regular route daily since last year or is this only another attempt?

It's the same bus that was originally planned to run from airport to kata and back. But the Tuk Tuk mafia would not allow the route from Patong to Kata so bus terminates in Patong.

Is this bus and have it been on a regular route daily since last year or is this only another attempt?

It's the same bus that was originally planned to run from airport to kata and back. But the Tuk Tuk mafia would not allow the route from Patong to Kata so bus terminates in Patong.

Thanks, that means its already operated on a daily basis between Airport - Patong! Where do passengers get on/off at the airport?

Thanks, that means its already operated on a daily basis between Airport - Patong! Where do passengers get on/off at the airport?

out the arrivals door, turn left, a very short walk to the bus stand.

Is this the same bus service that was recently reported by a member as stopping at a tour shop for the hard sell?

I know the minivans have been doing it for years, but from memory, in the other thread, the OP mentioned "the airport bus."

Is this the same bus service that was recently reported by a member as stopping at a tour shop for the hard sell?

I know the minivans have been doing it for years, but from memory, in the other thread, the OP mentioned "the airport bus."

Doubt it, unless the public bus drivers have started to freelance. mmmm ..... maybe

Is this the same bus service that was recently reported by a member as stopping at a tour shop for the hard sell?

I know the minivans have been doing it for years, but from memory, in the other thread, the OP mentioned "the airport bus."

No, that was a minibus.

Where in Patong does one board this bus?

There's no indication on their website as to the location of the bus stop, and the route map page is broken.

Where in Patong does one board this bus?

There's no indication on their website as to the location of the bus stop, and the route map page is broken.

Behind Jungceylon on the 'new' road at JJ Plaza, to the right/opposite of Jungceylon.

A troll post has been removed from view.

“I have talked with Governor Maitri Inthusut and Teerayut Prasertpon, the head of the Phuket Transportation Department." - I thought Prab Keesin was "the head of the Phuket Transportation Department."

At last, the bus service between the beaches we have been waiting for so long!

.??? Looks like a parking lot tram!