Krabi IA:Nok Knock AirAsia

[jpatokal]

So I had a chance to visit the Land of Smiles for the first time in a while (eek, almost 6 months!) and I found myself rather intrigued by Krabi's airport. Some background:

http://www.krabi-tourism.com/krabi-airport.htm

The current airport building thus dates from 1999 and is consequently fairly snazzy as far as Thai airports go, with modern styling, large glass windows etc and kept in generally pretty good shape. The strange thing not mentioned in the article is that there is a second airport building only a few hundred meters away, which looks largely identical but is slightly larger and not yet open despite, at least from the outside, appearing to be entirely complete -- even the driveways into the terminal are just blocked off with token pieces of string. The only sign of people and machinery at work, however, was at the end of the runway, evidently for lenghtening work of some kind (?). A faded sign near the entrance to the old(er) terminal proclaims that construction was to be finished in May 2005. So does anybody know the scoop? :confused:

And it was a positive surprise to find Krabi downright bustling over the Christmas weekend, although nearly all visitors seemed to be German or Scandinavian with nary any Chinese, Japanese, Singaporeans or Malaysians in sight. Here's hoping 2bangkok enjoyed my choice of booking engine for a Christmas present (http://r24.org/2bangkok.com/krabi/thecliff/) :D

[ncr]

A faded sign near the entrance to the old(er) terminal proclaims that construction was to be finished in May 2005.And Suvannabhumi Airport was opened in September 2005, as we all know! :D

[jpatokal]

From http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=160849:
Krabi Airport is currently being expanded, and construction is due to finish by March with new facilities to serve the increasing number of travelers to the province. The work progress was reported to the monthly meeting of head officials. After the completion, the airport runway will be 300 metres longer than the present length and be able to handle 300 seated Boeing 747s. In March, Air Asia, a low cost airliner will introduce its Bangkok Krabi route. At present only Thai Airways or TG is flying to Krabi from Bangkok and charter flights by Nova Air from Scandinavia. Other international charter aircrafts are also expected to fly to the destination later. As for the new facilities, more immigration counters will be in place to provide quick and efficient services for passengers to Krabi.
The list of flights above is missing Tiger from Singapore -- but it's a seasonal winter-only service.

[ncr]

What the heck is a "head official"? Is that a real word?

And what kind of website is "Thaisnews" (stupid name...), anyway?

[ncr]

The list of flights above is missing Tiger from Singapore -- but it's a seasonal winter-only service.:confused: Fleeing the harsh Singaporean winter to the warmer shores of Krabi?

[jpatokal]

:confused: Fleeing the harsh Singaporean winter to the warmer shores of Krabi?
Dry (high) season on the Andaman Coast is wintertime. In the summer it rains, waves are high and the scuba diving is no good.

[jpatokal]

The long-awaited new airport is finally open! (http://www.property-report.com/archives.php?id=529&date=0607) ...and no, I don't mean that one :p

New terminal at Krabi International Airport

A new four floor domestic passenger terminal has been opened at Krabi International Airport. ... The terminal has been built for domestic passengers and has many facilities such as restaurants, banks, taxi services and car rental offices. It has an area of 10,593sqms and a maximum capacity of 1,200 passengers. ...

Khun Pisarn said that the airport’s parking apron has been expanded so that it is large enough to hold three Boeing 747s. He said that the airport and its main contractor are planning to build a new international terminal, as well as a new runway and taxiway. The taxiway should be complete by the end of this year.

Some mighty ambitious plans there... Phuket's going to have some serious competition on its hands soon.

[GWR]

11 February 2008
Krabi Airport witnesses another record year in 2007 with passengers increases of 56%

Krabi International Airport, under the Civil Aviation Department, has just reported its final annual figures for the year 2007, with a total of 8,539 aircraft movements in and out or an astounding 74.8% increase over 2006, mainly due to over 500 new charter flights.

The total numbers of passengers arriving and departing, and some transits, was 856,029 showing an equally amazing increase of 56.4% compared to the same 12 months in 2006.

The total freight showed 1,143,793 kilograms in and out, a 7.9 % increase.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255102110022

[pong]

well yes, thats it. I initially though it must be a separate internat. terminal, then realsied the existing try-out services by AAsia or TR have stopped.
But then I rcall some other news; they aim at CHARTERS from Europe (right now plnety directly into HKT), Scandinavia is big on that and of course germania=prathet yurman. I even remember some 757 going to Olso from Krabi when I flew in there (3/4 yrs ago though).

[GWR]

See also Phuket IA Stats from same article:

http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?p=20889#post20889

Statistics are revealed for Phuket & Krabi airports in March 2008
..........

Meanwhile the Department of Civil Aviation who manage Krabi International Airport, reported that there were 776 flights in and out, a 8.49% decrease on last March, but the number of passengers was 106,331 actually up 23.01% due to bigger aircraft than last year. The freight was 142,037 kilograms, up an impressive 40.07%.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews2.php?news_id=18

[GWR]

See also Phuket IA Stats from same article:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?p=20889#post20889
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews2.php?news_id=18

Phuket and Krabi airports still record the highest ever numbers of passengers up to May

The Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited, which manages Phuket International Airport, have informed Andaman News about their latest statistics up to May 2008. They showed a total of 18,744 aircraft movements, up 9.81% from 2007. The total numbers of arriving, departing and transit passengers in the first 5 months of the year, was 2,855,750 showing an increase of 13.56% compared to the same 5 months in 2007: This year still shows the highest ever numbers at Phuket. The total freight showed 8,695 tons in and out, a 3.24 % increase. Meanwhile Krabi International Airport, under the Civil Aviation Department, also reported its January to May 2008 figures, with with a total of 3,240 aircraft movements or 14.58% decrease compared to 2007: but the total numbers of passengers arriving and departing, with no transits, was 443,450 showing an increase 13.08% compared to the same 5 months in 2007: again these are still the highest numbers of passengers ever at Krabi.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews2.php?news_id=281

[GWR]

"The airline has already lost Bt114 million, which is lower than was reported earlier," Patee said.

He also confirmed that the airline would not stop operations, as media speculation predicted. Moreover, the airline is still working with its parent company Thai Airways International, in services as well as marketing.

Nok Air's board agreed to the measures yesterday following discussions about the airline's future.

On Tuesday, the airline cut three domestic routes, from Bangkok to Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchathani and Krabi.

Nok Air cancelled all flights between Bangkok and Bangalore last November and Bangkok and Hanoi in May. However, it is still operating Bangkok-Udon Thani, Bangkok-Trang, Bangkok-Nakhon Si Thammarat and Bangkok-Chiang Mai services.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/05/headlines/headlines_30077335.php

July 07, 2008 22:20 PM
AirAsia To Fly Daily To Krabi, Palembang, And Banda Aceh From Tuesday

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- Low-cost airline, AirAsia Bhd, will commence daily flights from Kuala Lumpur to Krabi in Thailand and to the Indonesian cities of Palembang and Banda Aceh, from Tuesday.

Tickets are from as low as RM3.

AirAsia previously offered only four weekly flights to Krabi and Palembang and thrice to Banda Aceh.

"Due to strong demand, we are now offering daily flights to the three destinations starting tomorrow," AirAsia said in a statement here.

AirAsia's regional head of commercial, Kathleen Tan, said the carrier was currently the only one offering direct flights to the three destinations.

"Travellers flying from these destinations can also use Kuala Lumpur as the gateway to South-East Asia and fly to over 102 routes serviced by AirAsia," she said.

The booking period for this special promotion begins tomorrow to July 13 and for the travel period between Aug 7, 2008 and Apr 30, 2009.

-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/