Ko Phangan Airport is an abandoned airport project on Ko Pha-ngan, Surat Thani Province, Thailand.
The airport began construction in 2012 and was being built by Kan Air (a domestic Thai airline based at Chiang Mai International Airport). The airport plan included a 1,100 runway and a passenger terminal capable of handling 1,000 passengers per day. The runway would have been long enough for turboprop aircraft such as the ATR 72 variants.
[Kan Air ATR 72-500]
Kan Air were planning to fly from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport to Koh Phangan. It was also reported that they would operate flights from Ko Samui and Ko Tao (though there is no airport on Ko Tao).
The project was suspended in 2015 after it was discovered that the construction had encroached on national park land.
Kan Air (Wikipedia / archive link) suspended operations in 2017, and there have been no reports of the airport project being revived.
Koh Phangan Airport map
Map of Koh Phangan with Sanui Airport and Surat Thani Airport shown. Click on satellite view to see the land clearance in the trees.
[map of Koh Phangan Airport.]
Koh Phangan Airport plan.
[Via my-kohphangan.com.]
Videos and photos
This drone footage shows the clearance site on the island.
[Airport Koh Phangan Juli 2017 / Koh Phangan / Thailand.]
News archive
2017
Koh Phangan airport project hits snag – [09/06/17]
“Forestry authorities have lodged a complaint against the operator of Kan Air which allegedly cleared 42 rai of forest reserve on a mountain on Koh Phangan to build the Koh Phangan airport, causing almost 3 million baht in damage.”
[Forestry officials inspect part of a forest reserve allegedly cleared by Kannithi Aviation, the operator of Kan Air, to build a commercial airport on Koh Phangan. (Photo by Supapong Chaolan)]
Kan Air grounded ‘for now’ – [21/04/17]
“Kan Air has suspended its operations altogether due to technical issues related to its aircraft.”
2016
Koh Phangan airport could open to next year to cater to full moon party revelers – [06/09/16]
“If everything goes according to plan (which it probably won’t), the Koh Phangan airport could be open by the end of 2017, after being pushed back from a 2014 projected opening.
The airport has been in some stage of construction for several years. But no buildings have yet been built. The 200 rai of land was purchased for THB500 million and some land grading has already been done.”
Koh Phangan airport developer seeks loans – [05/09/16]
“The developer of the first airport on Koh Phangan, home of the full-moon party, is seeking a capital injection of 1.5 billion baht to complete the facility. Kannithi Aviation (KA), which operates ccommuter carrier Kan Air, is in talks with a few foreign financiers for soft loans to finish the airport, as costs have run up to about 2 billion baht.”
[A rendering of the proposed airport on Phangan island.]
2015
Phangan airport encroaches on forest: officials – [30/09/15]
“The airport construction project on Koh Phangan by commuter carrier Kan Air has trespassed on Than Sadet-Koh Phangan National Park”.
2014
Koh Phangan airport could be open a soon as next year – [12/02/14]
“Southern private business owner Somphong Sooksanguan who owns Kan air and part owns VietJet Air and is now planning on spending THB 900 million (US$ 28.1 million) building a brand new airport in Koh Phangan.”
2013
Phangan airport due in 2014 – [02/09/13]
“Construction of the first airport on Thailand’s fifth-largest island is gearing up, with entrepreneur Somphong Sooksanguan setting his sights on opening the facility by this time next year.”
2012
Party island Koh Phangan to build its first airport – [18/10/12]
“Celebrating the full moon just got a lot easier: Kan Air will build an airport and launch Bangkok-Koh Phangan flights.”
Kan Air ready for take-off – [16/10/12]
“Kan Air is spending 700 million baht to build an airport on Koh Phangan, the island famous for its full moon parties and as a backpackers’ destination, located in Surat Thani in the Gulf of Thailand.”
[Construction of the airport is in full swing. This will be the first time travellers can access the island, famed for its full moon parties, by air.]
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