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 Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok in terms of cargo and passenger traffic and is served by 22 airlines. Phuket International Airport handled almost six million passengers last year, 2.5 million of them flying in from overseas. Most of them were tourists. Flights go between Phuket and Bangkok, Singapore, Chiang Mai, Kuala Lumpur, 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 restaurant and airline offices.
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.
The most convenient way to get from Phuket to the beaches is by taxi. The systems lacks transparency, and most arrivals fall for the pricier AOT Limousine service which has counters in the arrivals hall. If you exit the terminal and follow the walkway to your left you’ll find metered taxis, who may or may not agree to use their meter. Rates to Patong beach are no less than 500 baht, but usually tourists find themselves paying up-to 1000 baht for the 50 minute trip to Kata or Rawai. Considering the traffic jams, and mafia monopoly that exists, these drivers can get away with the exorbitant rates. Travelling to Bang Tao, or nearby Nai Yang can be as little as 250 baht per vehicle. Ultimately a pre-arranged pick up by your hotel is a much less stressful option.
A recently launched bus service provides cheap transport (maximum 85 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 20:45. Going from Phuket City to the airport, it runs from 5:00am to 18:30. There are sometimes minivans available as well, with fares ranging around 100 or 150 baht (hire minivan from airport to town or town to airport 800B/van maximum 10 people), 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.
Renting a car is also a popular option, and it’s worthwhile having a car to explore the island and take trips to Krabi and beyond. These are available for hire from major car rental companies at the airport and are best booked online in advance using a car rental comparator site.
