Phuket City Airport (HKT) Flights & Flight Status

When I first visited Thailand while on my honeymoon, travelling to the island of Phuket was high on my list. The island is known for its beaches and classical architecture and has a viewpoint that is said to have the best sunsets in Thailand. There is a reason Phuket is a top destination for many travellers in Thailand, newlyweds included.

But, like most Americans, I flew into Bangkok, which is often the more direct and affordable entry point for travellers from Europe and North America. After a stay in the capital, I hopped on a local flight to Phuket International Airport (HKT). It’s in the northern part of Phuket and serves the entire island, including tourist hotspots like the beaches of Kata and Kamala.

After trying it out for myself, here are my top tips for travelling in and around Thailand via Phuket International Airport (HKT).

Flying into Phuket versus Bangkok

It may be located on an island, but Phuket International Airport is the third-busiest airport in Thailand in terms of passengers, surpassed only by Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), both in the capital.

International flights arrive into Phuket daily from destinations like Delhi, Singapore, Malaysia and China. If you’re coming to Thailand to hit the beach, have a limited amount of time and want to avoid the congestion of Bangkok, I suggest you book flights directly into Phuket International Airport. Just expect to pay a bit more than you would if you flew into one of Bangkok’s airports, although this is not always the case.

However, if you’re looking for the lowest cost option, like I was, it is usually better to fly into Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) or Don Mueang Airport (DMK), stay a day or two, and then book a short, local flight to Phuket. Not only will you get to see another side of Thailand, but the flights from Bangkok to the island are daily, direct and take under an hour and a half.

Airlines connecting Phuket to Bangkok

There are several airlines that fly regularly between Bangkok's two airports and Phuket International Airport. The airlines that regularly make the journey include AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Lion Air, Thai Airways and VietJet Air.

Some of these airlines are larger and well regarded. Thai Airways, for example, is part of the Star Alliance, which includes Lufthansa and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). Others, like Nok Air, which I flew into Phuket with, are low-cost carriers that primarily operate regionally and have fewer services.

If you’re flying with a low-cost carrier, like I did, I recommend booking your flights directly on the airline’s website. Be aware that with low-cost carriers you will often need to pay extra for things like choosing a seat, boarding early and bringing luggage. It is always cheaper to pay for these things in advance rather than at the airport. Unfortunately, that’s a tip I had to learn the hard way.

The best way to get to and from HKT

While the locals like to get around the island by motorbike, most arriving tourists will take either a taxi or a shuttle bus to and from Phuket International Airport.

For the latter, the best option is the Phuket Smart Bus, in my opinion. The bus picks up travellers at the airport and then drives down the island, making stops at popular beach destinations like Surin Beach, Kamala, Patong, Kata and Rawai. Expect to pay in cash or by QR code for the one-way trip. You can also book ahead online.

Another option is to take a minibus, or local taxi, from the airport to your destination. These tend to cost a bit more but are still very inexpensive compared to UK taxis, though prices can vary depending on your destination, of course. This was how I opted to get to my hotel from Phuket International Airport during my honeymoon.

In addition, HKT has rideshare services similar to Uber. To use these handy and affordable ride services, you’ll want to download the apps in advance so you can request a car upon arrival. The three on-demand taxi apps used most in Phuket are Grab, Bolt and inDrive.

I’ve personally used Bolt without issue during my travels. InDrive is reported to be the lowest cost option, but if you have all three apps, you can shop around on arrival to instantly see which fare is the best, or which service has cars more immediately available.

Security queues at Phuket International Airport

HKT is a small airport with three terminals in total. International flights typically fly out of Terminal 2, while domestic flights fly in and out of Terminal 3. Despite its smaller size, remember that this is one of the busiest airports in the entire country. For that reason, I always tell travellers to allow plenty of time to check-in and get through security at HKT.

This travel tip is extra important during Phuket’s busy season, which runs from December to April. During this period, cold-weather travellers come to Phuket for a balmy escape while the island is in its dry season, which makes it appealing to regional travellers as well.

To avoid the stress that comes from long security queues and congestion, arrive early for a departing flight out of Phuket, especially if you need to check in a bag.

Wi-Fi at Phuket International Airport

If you’re like me and you prefer to get a SIM card on arrival rather than paying the extra cost for international phone service, you’ll be happy to know that Phuket International Airport has free Wi-Fi throughout.

That means that when you arrive in Phuket you can log into the free Wi-Fi network and use the service to call a car, navigate to your hotel or check-in with family back home.

It is worth noting that to access the free airport Wi-Fi you have to enter your full name and email address and agree to the terms and conditions of the network. The airport website recommends protecting yourself and your data from hackers by using a VPN, turning off sharing and enabling your device’s firewall while on the public network.

If you need to use the airport Wi-Fi, be brief and don’t use it to do something personal or sensitive, like check your bank account.

Lounges at Phuket International Airport

Phuket Airport is relatively small, so it may be a surprise to learn that that there are several airport lounges to choose from. There are Coral Executive Lounges in both the domestic and international terminals, with perks like a shower room, massages and food buffets. You can book a visit to one of the Coral Lounges online at least 24 hours in advance.

In addition to the Coral Lounges, Star Alliance members will be happy to know that there is a Thai Airways lounge, officially named the Royal Orchid Lounge. There is also a Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Lounge at Phuket Airport. During peak tourist season, the airport can get quite busy, with long queues. Therefore, if you have the necessary flying status or a lounge pass, it is worth arriving at Phuket Airport early.

Dining and shopping at the airport

If you follow my advice and arrive at Phuket Airport early, you may need to kill some time. And if you don’t have access to one of the airport’s three lounges, you’ll want to spend some time exploring the airport's dining and shopping options.

Luckily, for such a small airport, HKT has plenty of offerings. You can find an abundance of duty-free shops offering things like cosmetics and perfume, along with souvenirs, and local vendors selling Thai products like dried fruit, coconut products and Thai tea.

For food and drink, Phuket Airport has American brands like Starbucks and Burger King along with cafes and restaurants serving Thai and other Asian cuisines. And of course, plenty of coffee shops to keep you going.