IATA · HKTPhuket · Andaman coast

Phuket Airport

Phuket International Airport (HKT) is the busiest airport outside Bangkok and the main gateway to Thailand's Andaman coast. It sits in the far north of the island, about 32 km from Phuket Town and 40 km from Patong, and handled over 17 million passengers in 2024 with flights across Asia, the Gulf and seasonal Europe.

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In numbers

Phuket Airport at a glance

Official name
Phuket International
IATA / ICAO
HKT / VTSP
Operator
Airports of Thailand (AoT)
Terminals
International + domestic
To Phuket Town
32 km, about 45 min
To Patong
40 km, about 50 min
Elevation
25 m above sea level
Runway
09/27, 3,000 m
Transport and services

Leaving Phuket Airport

The airport is in the north; every beach is to the south, so plan the transfer before you land. Compare the four main ways to reach your resort.

Most flexible

Car rental

Desks in both terminals, with no-deposit models and free cancellation. The best way to explore Phuket and reach quieter beaches, from ฿700/day in low season.

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Taxi & transfer

Fixed-fare airport taxis and pre-booked private transfers. Patong from about ฿800, Phuket Town from ฿800, Kata and Karon a little more.

Fares and options →

Parking

Short-term and daily car parks by the terminals, with the first 15 minutes free and a daily cap of ฿200. Handy for drop-offs and pick-ups.

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Flights and times

Check arrivals and departures live. Aircraft land over Mai Khao beach every few minutes at peak, so the board is busy.

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Live flight board

Live flights at Phuket Airport

Follow arrivals and departures at Phuket Airport in real time. Data is provided by Avionio and updated continuously; smaller airports show only a handful of flights, which is normal.

Open the dedicated pages: Arrivals and Departures for Phuket Airport.

About Phuket Airport

Phuket International Airport occupies the northern tip of Phuket island, in Mai Khao, far from the resorts that cluster along the west and south coasts. The current international terminal opened in 2016 alongside the older domestic terminal, roughly doubling capacity as Andaman tourism boomed.

Phuket Airport is Thailand's third-busiest after Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, and the busiest resort airport in the country. In 2024 it handled 17.2 million passengers, with more than ten million of those on international flights from across Asia, the Gulf and, in winter, Europe.

Traffic is highly seasonal, peaking in the dry months from November to April and easing during the southwest monsoon from May to October. A single 3,000 m runway, 09/27, handles everything from regional turboprops to wide-body charters. Airlines operating at the airport include:

  • Thai Airways
  • Bangkok Airways
  • Thai AirAsia
  • Thai AirAsia X
  • Thai Lion Air
  • Thai Vietjet Air
  • Nok Air
  • AirAsia
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Scoot
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Emirates
  • Qatar Airways
  • Korean Air
  • China Eastern
Phuket International Airport terminal exterior in warm morning light
Two terminals sit at the northern tip of the island, 32 km from town.

How to get from Phuket Airport to the beaches

Every Phuket resort lies south of the airport, so the transfer is a real journey: Patong is around 40 km and 50 minutes away, Kata and Karon a little further. There is no rail link. Five options connect the terminals to the coast, and prices in baht vary widely by comfort.

ModeDestinationDurationPriceFrequency
Phuket Smart BusPatong / west coast1.5-2 hr฿100 flathourly
Airport taxiPatongabout 50 min฿800-1,000on demand
Shared minibusKata / Karon60-90 min฿180-300 ppwhen full
Private transferAll resortsfrom 45 min฿750 to Patongon booking
Car rentalAll Phuketimmediatefrom ฿700/dayterminal desks

The Phuket Smart Bus is the cheapest way down the west coast at ฿100 flat, but it is slow with many stops. For a direct trip, a fixed-fare taxi or private transfer takes you door to door, while a rental car is the most flexible option if you plan to move between beaches.

Taxi and transfer pick-up area outside Phuket Airport arrivals
Fixed-fare taxis and pre-booked transfers wait outside arrivals.

Terminals and services

Phuket Airport has two linked terminals: the international terminal, opened in 2016, and the older domestic terminal next door. Both are on one level and within a short walk of each other, so connecting between a domestic and an international flight is straightforward.

In high season the international terminal is busy with charters and low-cost flights, so allow time at check-in and immigration. Car rental desks and the taxi and transfer counters are grouped in the arrivals areas of both terminals.

  • Free airport WiFi throughout both terminals
  • Duty-free shops, cafes and Thai restaurants
  • Car rental and transfer desks in arrivals
  • ATMs, currency exchange and SIM-card counters
  • Lounges and assistance for reduced mobility

For a departure from Phuket, arrive about 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one: in the December to April high season, queues at check-in and security build quickly.

Check-in hall inside Phuket International Airport terminal
Check-in, security and gates sit on one level in each terminal.

Parking at Phuket Airport

Short-term and daily car parks sit right by the terminals, with 15 free minutes for drop-offs and a ฿200 daily cap. Useful if you are collecting arriving friends or family.

See parking tariffs

Explore Phuket by car

From Patong's nightlife to the quiet beaches of the south and the viewpoints of the west coast, a rental car picked up at the terminal lets you see Phuket at your own pace, from ฿700/day in low season.

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Phuket Airport: common questions

Where is Phuket Airport?

Phuket International Airport (HKT) is at the northern tip of the island, in Mai Khao, about 32 km from Phuket Town and 40 km from Patong Beach. There is no rail link, so all transfers are by road: taxi, minibus, the Phuket Smart Bus or a rental car.

How do I get from Phuket Airport to Patong?

Patong is around 40 km south of Phuket Airport, roughly 50 minutes by road. A fixed-fare airport taxi costs about ฿800 to ฿1,000, a pre-booked private transfer from about ฿750, and the Phuket Smart Bus ฿100 but with a slow, multi-stop route of up to two hours.

How much is a taxi from Phuket Airport?

Phuket airport taxis use fixed fares, which are high by Thai standards: about ฿800 to ฿900 to Phuket Town, ฿800 to ฿1,000 to Patong, and ฿1,000 to ฿1,200 to Kata or Karon. A metered taxi adds a ฿100 airport surcharge. A pre-booked transfer is often cheaper and fixed in advance.

Can I rent a car at Phuket Airport?

Yes, several companies have desks in both terminals, with rates from about ฿700 a day in low season and no-deposit options. A car is the most flexible way to explore the island's beaches, but you need an International Driving Permit to drive legally in Thailand.

When is the best time to visit Phuket?

Phuket's high season runs from November to April, with the driest, sunniest weather and the busiest airport. May to October is the green season, with rain and the SW monsoon but lower prices; September is the quietest and cheapest month for car rental.

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