News

Extension of the Phuket International Airport

Phuket International Airport is the second largest airport of Thailand in term of passenger traffic, after the Bangkok Airport. The airport will expand on many level indeed, new facilities will be set up to accommodate over 12.5 million passengers. This project includes a new international terminal, a five floors underground car park, a cargo terminal, and a taxiwayexpansion. The Phuket airport development is essential because it serves more than 50 lines in Asia and also Europe as Zurich, Frankfurt, Budapest, or Stockholm. Finn Air will bein charge of managing the line from Charles de Gaulle airport. It has been completed andalready well operated now.

B240m budget for Phuket airport pier approved

PHUKET: The central government has given approval for a budget of B240 million for building a passenger jetty at the Phuket International Airport, allowing people to arrive on Phuket by air and then travel on by boat to where they are staying.

Construction of a pier

To decrease the global transport costs of the new arrivals on the island and their travel timeto their places of residence, a jetty will be available next to the airport. This initiative willreduce also road traffic, and will allow passengers to Patong in 25 minutes, instead of 45minutes by car and an hour to go to Karon. It will serve tourist areas of the west coast. Inthe long term, the ferry destinations could also be extended to Krabi, Phangnga,Koh Racha and Koh Phi Phi islands.

PHUKET: A new public transport initiative was set into motion yesterday with the launch of 50-baht van rides from the Old Phuket Town bus station on Phang Nga Road to Patong Beach.

The 15 seat vans will stop at previously established bus stops at Phuket Provincial Hall, Phuket Prison, Satree Phuket School, Vachira Phuket Hospital, Bangkok Hospital, Tessaban Baan Samkong School and Samkong Tesco Lotus.

“The van is scheduled to go from Phuket Town to Patong Beach every hour from 7am to 6pm and from 6am to 5pm from Patong Beach to Phuket Town. There are six vans in service,” said Terayout Prasertphol, chief of the Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO).

It will cost 50 baht to go from Phuket Town to Patong or Patong to Phuket Town, and only 30 baht from Phuket Town to Samkong or Patong to Samkong. Students will be charged half price.

Destination stickers are displayed in both Thai and English.

“This is a cheap transportation option that we are proud to present to residents and tourists,” said Mr Terayout. “I want to see people supporting and using it, as we have put a lot of hard work into it.”

The PLTO will keep a close watch on the new initiative’s demands.

“If people seem to need more vans, we may change the schedule so that they leave every 30 minutes during peak hours. We hope to provide more public transportation on the island.”

The Tram

A new project will be set up soon in Phuket, project that has been under discussions sincelast year. Indeed, the government has decided to build a tram, LRT LightRail Tramtoserve the important places of the island, such as government offices, schools, parks andmarkets. One of his main objecdtives is to reduce the island pollution by decreasing thenumber of road drivers. The tram route was decided. This conveyance will be 30 meterslong and can contain 400 passengers. It will start from Tha Noon, in the province of PhangNga Bay, until Chalong Circle and will go through Phuket Town and Phuket internationalAirport. This project represents a significant investment from the government, about 30billion bahts so as to develop all necessary infrastructures such as roads, electricalengineering and car park near the stops. Finally, construction is expected to start within thenext 3 years, to improve travel conditions for the inhabitants.

Tunnel construction in Patong

To improve traffic flow and secure roads in the busy city of Patong, two 1.5 kilometerslength tunnels will be built. Both will be onesidedand will welcome cars and motorcycles.This project will begin in 2017.