A HUGE new airport is set to open at a popular beach destination named a top holiday destination this year.
The new Andaman International Airport, set to cost 75billion baht (£171million), will connect Brits to Thailand much easier.
The current Phuket Airport is nearing capacity after record numbers last year[/caption]
It will be the second international airport for Phuket, one of Thailand’s most popular islands.
Brits can currently fly to Phuket direct with TUI from London Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham.
But the new airport hopes to relieve pressure on the current main airport which welcomed more than 10million passengers last year – nearing the capacity of 12.5million.
Along with two runways, Andaman International Airport will be able to hand 43 flights an hour, with up to 22.5million passengers a year.
The airport in Phang Nga is set to start works in 2027, and will open by 2032, according to Airports of Thailand (AOT).
In the mean time, Phuket ‘s main airport is also undergoing a huge expansion this year to handle up to 18million passengers a year.
Set to cost around 6billion baht (£138million) it will take three years to complete and will eventually see flight capacity is to increase from 20 per hour to 25 per hour.
Works hope to start in 2026.
Also in Thailand, Suvarnabhumi Airport is building a new South Terminal, costing 120billion baht, and will increase capacity to 70million passengers a year.
As well as a fourth runway, it will be completed by 2031.
And Lanna Airport in the north of Thailand will also start in 2027, costing around 72billion baht (£1.6million).
This will connect tourists to Chiang Mai with a second airport.
AOT President Kerati Kijmanawat said the capacity increases will see as many as 250million passengers a year travelling to Thailand.
He said: “We aim to position Thailand’s airports among the top 20 in the world.”
Thailand was named a top destination to visit this year by Travel + Leisure.
Not only that, but the country was the location for the latest White Lotus TV series, filmed at Four Seasons Koh Samui.
British Airways even recently launched flights from the UK to Bangkok.
The flight route returned back in October, four years after pausing due to the pandemic.
One mum revealed how she ditched her life in the UK to move to Thailand, and how you can do it as well.
Phuket is one of the most popular islands in Thailand[/caption]
