The Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) is fast-tracking the construction of the new Andaman International Airport, which is set to become a major long-haul flight hub in the South.
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit recently visited Phuket and Phangnga to assess the progress of Phuket’s second airport, the Andaman International Airport in Phangnga province. During his visit, he also initiated plans for improving the transportation infrastructure in the vicinity.
According to Mr. Suriya, the new airport, currently in its second stage of development, will serve as an expansion of Phuket Airport. Together, the two airports are anticipated to handle up to 18 million passengers annually, a significant increase compared to the current average of 12.5 million passengers served by Phuket Airport.
Once operational, the Andaman International Airport will become a central hub for direct long-haul international flights, while Phuket Airport will primarily handle domestic and short-haul international flights.
Mr. Suriya emphasized the need for improved land transport infrastructure to connect the two airports and ensure convenient connectivity for passengers. The AOT will follow up on this directive, as conveyed by Deputy AOT Director Kirati Kitmanawat.
The two airports are located about 23.4 kilometers apart, and currently, it takes less than 20 minutes to travel between them using the Sarasin Bridge, which connects Phuket and Phangnga.
Phuket Airport currently operates with one runway and 25 aprons, enabling it to handle up to 20 flights per hour. The AOT had originally planned to expand its capacity to accommodate 25 flights per hour, but limited space precluded the addition of a second runway. Hence, the decision was made to construct a second airport to meet the growing demand.
According to CAPA – Centre for Aviation, the Andaman International Airport is projected to commence operations in 2031.
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