Charter-flight buses to resume parking near Phuket airport terminal

PHUKET: Buses will resume parking near the main Phuket International Airport terminal within two months, an Airports of Thailand (AoT) official confirmed to the Phuket Gazette yesterday.

The announcement follows a change in policy earlier this month that forced incoming charter-flight passengers to hike to their buses, which now have to be parked far away from the terminal due to the airport expansion project (story here).

“AoT considers this a very important issue. The best solution we have so far is allowing the buses to return to their normal parking places in front of the terminal within the next two months,” said Amnuay Sarachart, deputy director of the AoT Phuket office.

Mr Amnuay apologized for the current inconvenience, and vowed to find ways make the situation easier.

“We are in the middle of the expansion, so difficulties are bound to occur. We understand how frustrating this can be for incoming passengers, so we will do our best to ensure that the construction
is finished as soon as possible,” he said.

“To make the transition from the terminal to the buses easier for travellers, we have stationed more security guards outside to help incoming passengers with their luggage.”

Mr Amnuay added that he and other relevant officials would meet regularly to discuss what else could be done to improve services for passengers.

The new international terminal is expected to be completed on February 14, 2016, while the entire expansion projected is expected to be finished on January 9, 2017. This includes a renovation of the current terminal, which hosts both international and domestic flights. After renovations, it will be turned into only a domestic terminal.

— Kongleaphy Keam