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| Private-jet terminal could add VIP allure in Phuket |
| 26-MAY-2009 Intellasia | Bangkok post |
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| 26 May, 2009 - 7:00:00 AM |
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A terminal dedicated to private jets could be built at Phuket International Airport as part of the ongoing overall expansion of Thailand's second busiest civil airfield.
Phuket International airport is now handling up to 100 private jets per month, says ASA Group, a VIP travel specialist.
The proposed facility, the kingdom's first, would be constructed separately from the main terminal by private investors under a concession arrangement with Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT).
State-controlled AoT, which operates the country's six main airports, will soon solicit interest from companies to develop the VIP terminal capable of providing comprehensive services to private jets.
It could offer ground handling plus passenger hospitality services equivalent to five-star hotels, Phuket airport general manager Prathuang Sornkom said.
The proposed facility is seen as helping to further enhance the southern resort island's growing reputation as a destination for the international rich and famous and jet-setting businesspeople.
Phuket airport now handles up to 100 private-jet flights in a good month, mostly by wealthy property investors, according to Simon Wagstaff, the founder of ASA Group, a Hong Kong-based specialist in elite travel, security and aviation.
Prathuang said AoT did not intend to invest in the VIP venture itself but would rather leave the job to companies with expertise and connections in this area. "We would concentrate on mainstream of airport development."
Under the five-year development plan from 2009 to 2013, AoT is investing 5 billion baht to expand Phuket airport to deal with overcrowding problems.
The expansion will raise its capacity to 11.5 million passengers a year, six million international and 5.5 million domestic, from the current annual limit of 6.5 million.
Last year, 5.7 million passengers passed through Phuket. However, traffic in the first four months of this year was slowed by the global economic crisis and local political turmoil, providing some respite to the airport congestion.
AoT figures showed total passengers through Phuket airport declined 13.8 percent in the four months to April 30, to 2.09 million, with flights falling 17.1 percent year-on-year to 12,939.
ASA Group has been negotiating with AoT to develop what it terms a "state-of-the-art terminal and business centre" at Phuket airport to accommodate the swelling ranks of VIP visitors.
Wagstaff said the company did not propose building a new terminal but would convert some existing facilities at the airport for the purpose.
No formal accord has been reached but the company said it would be ready to move quickly and could have some services available by the end of the third quarter this year.
"We handle so many private flights into both Bangkok and Phuket and it is apparent that the time is right to cater for our growing client base of VIP visitors, who now have nowhere in the airports to go once they disembark," Wagstaff said.
He said the company would offer aircraft operators, their passengers and air crews a range of professional services for business and private flights, including customised solutions for VIP, diplomatic and large aircraft operations.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/aviation/17300/private-jet-terminal-could-add-vip-allure-in-phuket
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