Phuket International Airport (HKT) and transportation
Phuket International Airport (HKT) is a small but fully equipped airport located at the northern end of Phuket island. It is second only to Don Muang Airport in Bangkok in terms of cargo and passenger traffic and is served by 19 airlines. Phuket International Airport sees almost 3 million passengers a year, most of them foreign tourists. Flights go between Phuket and Bangkok, Singapore, Chiang Mai, Kuala Lampur, Hong Kong, Pattaya and other destinations, including direct charter flights from Europe. Airlines serving Phuket include Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Silk Air, Malaysia Airlines and the local budget services Air Asia, Nok and One2Go.
The airport is located approximately 15 minutes to Bang Tao beach, 40 minutes to Patong beach and an hour to Phuket City by car. The airport has three floors, with Arrivals on the ground floor and Departures on the second floor; each floor is separated into Domestic and International. The third floor contains a few facilities including a restaurant.
Facilities in Phuket International Airport include: two car hire booths; four currency exchange counters and ATMs; left baggage; lost and found; information (tel. +66 (0) 76 327 230-7); post and telegraph office; tour service counter; and Muslim prayer room. Facilities for disabled patrons are provided in the car park, elevators and toilets, and there are telephones for the hearing impaired.
Shops consist of multiple duty-free outlets and souvenir shops selling gifts, books and packaged local foods. Additionally, you’ll find a Dunkin’ Donuts and a Burger King in the departures hall as well as other coffee and snack outlets. A Thai Airways International restaurant is located on the third floor. Televisions are located in the international and domestic departure lounges.
There is limited choice in transportation from Phuket International Airport as the airport limousines have successfully kept taxis and tuk tuks out. At the time of writing, a one-way ride to Phuket City is 400 baht and Patong is 550 baht. If you really detest this rip-off you can lug your suitcase across the carpark and use the metered taxis that are permitted to gather there, although you’ll still need to insist they use the meter. If you do a journey should cost no more than 150 baht. Better still, if you leave the airport entirely and stand on the main road you will eventually pick up a taxi driver who hopefully agrees to use the meter. Limousine tickets are sold in the Arrivals hall on the first floor and there is sometimes a wait as there are only so many vehicles to go around and they drive very fast trying to get back for the next customer.
A recently launched bus service provides cheap transport (maximum 52 baht) but goes to the bus terminal in Phuket City with stops along the way. It leaves at one-hour intervals from 6:30am to 21:30. Going from Phuket City to the airport, it runs from 5:00am to 18:00. There are sometimes minivans available as well, with fares ranging around 100 or 150 baht, but beware that they may make stop-offs at tour agencies.
There is ample, safe but un-shaded parking outside the airport for 10 baht per hour or 50 baht per day. It’s possible to park your car there for a few days if going on short trip. Hire cars can be arranged at one of the two booths inside the airport but their rates are generally higher than the tour operator rack rates offered online.
