Phuket Airport Expansion Delay Threatens Tourism Growth
Phuket’s tourism industry is under pressure as delays in the Phuket International Airport Phase 2 expansion raise fears of a capacity bottleneck. Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, President of the Phuket Tourist Association, warned that the island could face major challenges in meeting rising passenger demands as the project drags on further. The delay could affect Phuket’s ability to remain competitive with other international destinations.
During a meeting at Splash Beach Resort in Mai Khao on Thursday, November 6, Thaneth emphasised the urgency of the situation. The airport’s expansion was originally scheduled for completion between 2028 and 2029, but projections now suggest it may not be ready until 2031. By that time, Phuket’s passenger handling capacity is expected to need an increase to at least 25 million annually, up from the current 18 million, to sustain growth.
Phuket currently accommodates between 15 and 17 million passengers a year, placing significant strain on airport operations, transport networks and tourism services. Thaneth warned that without timely expansion, Phuket risks losing valuable flight slots and international competitiveness. The meeting, chaired by Phuket Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai, included key officials such as Phuket Airport General Manager Monchai Tanode and Deputy Chief Tuanchai Tansuriyawong, along with representatives from government agencies and the private sector.
Officials confirmed that the expansion involves extensive upgrades to engineering systems, passenger services and the international terminal. Monchai Tanode reported that the project design is now more than halfway complete and should be finalised by the second quarter of 2026. The budgeting and contractor selection phases are expected to follow, with construction set to begin in 2027 and take approximately two and a half to three years to complete.
From January to October 2025, Phuket Airport managed over 90,000 flights, with total numbers projected to reach 120,000 by year-end. Passenger numbers have already reached around 14 million and could exceed 18 million by late 2025, well before the expansion begins. Vice Governor Samawit highlighted the project’s importance, noting that tourism accounted for 92% of Phuket’s revenue in 2024, generating over 500 billion baht from more than 14 million visitors.
In the first seven months of 2025 alone, over 8 million tourists contributed more than 300 billion baht to the local economy. Samawit stressed that accelerating airport infrastructure development is essential to maintain the island’s role as a key travel hub, as reported by the Phuket News.
Key Takeaways
• Phuket airport expansion faces significant delays, pushing completion to 2031.
• Tourism leaders warn the island may struggle to handle rising passenger volumes.
• Authorities plan to finalise the design in 2026, with construction starting in 2027.
Adapted by Asean Now from TheThaiger 2025-11-10
Source: https://aseannow.com/topic/1378372-phuket-airport-expansion-delay-threatens-tourism-growth/
