13/08/2026
500-Rai Land Proposal to Ease Phuket Airport Congestion: The Director-General of CAAT revealed that private landowners holding a 500-rai plot northeast of and adjacent to Phuket Airport have proposed developing the site into an MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) hub, while linking the area to the main airport to help tackle severe congestion.
Expanding Capacity for Surging International Flights: Alongside the MRO facility, the proposal includes building a new passenger terminal and adding around 50 aircraft parking stands. This directly addresses Phuket Airport's current limitations, which include a single runway and only 31 existing parking bays—far short of demand, especially as international passenger numbers have surged past those at Don Mueang Airport.
Flexible Investment Models and Fast-Track Rollout: The private sector is open to negotiating with Airports of Thailand (AOT) through land leasing or a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, and is ready to secure its own funding. Because the land is already available without the need for lengthy land acquisition processes, the project could be operational within just two years if an agreement is reached.
A Practical Short-Term Solution Awaiting Government Greenlight: CAAT has already reported this initiative to the Minister of Transport. It serves as an effective short-term fix while long-term plans for a second Phuket airport in Phang Nga are underway. The project currently awaits a clear policy decision and final agreement from AOT and the government.
