Airports of Thailand has reported international passenger traffic up +13.69% to 18.6m between January and May, thanks to strong double-digit growth at four of its six airports, led by Bangkok Suvarnabumi and Bangkok Don Mueang.

This news comes at the same time that AOT recently reported plans to local media that it expects to the equivalent of around $5.5bn over the next decade and a half on developing its six airports.

In terms of actual passenger numbers over the first five months, Suvarnabumi led the rest with 12, 590,512 – up +6.4%, followed by Don Mueang with 3,035,819 (+48.53%); Phuket 2,395,964 (+17.41%); Chiang Mai 595,369 (+22.68%); Hat Yai 55,139 (+14.10%); and Chiang Rai 7,289 (+7.14%).

 

PHUKET RETAIL EXPANSION
On the domestic side, the fastest growing airports in passenger volume terms were Suvarnabumi and Don Mueang collectively with 8,500,228 (+13.66%); Phuket 1,872,396 (+20.44%); Chiang Mai 1,891,768 (+12.32%) and Chiang Rai 509,570 (+18.95%).

 

 

Meanwhile, Airports of Thailand has advised that it hopes to open its brand new terminal building at Phuket International Airport in  September, ahead of the height of the tourism season, following final operational tests which have delayed the original opening by three months.

As reported, the King Power International Group is also looking forward to opening new shops at Phuket’s new terminal where it will operate all of the duty free areas in significantly expanded retail space.

 

DOWNTOWN STORE COST $125m

This follows the opening of its 26,312sq m duty free complex in downtown Phuket late last year, bringing the duty free retailer’s number of downtown duty free shops in Thailand to four. This latest new downtown store is located around 30km from Phuket.

For more details click here: http://www.trbusiness.com/regional-news/asia-pacific/kpig-opens-new-phuket-downtown-store-complex/98625