PHUKET: A total of 75 flights will be affected by the temporary closure of Phuket airport for urgent runway maintenance work from 2am to 7am on Monday and Tuesday this week.
Phet Chancharoen, director of the Phuket airport, said cracks were found at the head of Runway 09 (Mai Khao) and the area connecting a taxiway. The cracks were caused by wear and tear during the high season.
Closure hours are from 2am to 7am on Monday and Tuesday. A total of 75 flights will be affected, he said. Airlines were notified in advance and should have modified their schedules accordingly.
The decision to close the runway for repairs was made at a meeting on Sunday evening. A contingency plan was also in place to handle any resulting passenger congestion at the airport.
"The airport has asked the contractor to mobilise resources and keep the impact down to a minimum. We apologise for the inconvenience and will keep the public informed of any changes," he said.
Phuket airport handles about 300 flights and about 70,000 passengers daily.