Construction on new U-Tapao terminal to begin in Dec.
The Thai Ministry of Transport has big plans for the international U-Tapao Airport in Pattaya. The airport has to grow from 100,000 to 3 million passengers annually and become a regional center for commercial aircraft .
The airport is owned by the Royal Thai Navy and processes only a limited number of flights from Bangkok Airways plus some seasonal charter flights from Russia.
Growth U-Tapao
A new passenger terminal is under construction and in 2015 the capacity can grow significantly. In the near future more passenger facilities will be added and also a second runway of 3,500 meters is planned. U-Tapao has already the longest in Thailand , built by the US Army for B52 aircraft that were used for bombing during the Vietnam War.
Construction crews are expected to break ground on the new passenger terminal for U-Tapao-Pattaya International Airport in December, aiming to open a new, modern facility for Pattaya by next summer.
Vice Adm. Surapong Aisayanont, a consultant for the Royal Thai Navy-administered airport, said on Oct. 30 that construction of the 25,200 sq. meter facility should be complete by June.
Navy officials last year approved the 868 million baht budget to transform the military air field into a modern civilian airport. The expansion calls for not only a new terminal capable of handling 1,500 passengers per hour, but new parking facilities, fuel depot, fire-fighting systems, x-ray machines and improvements to other equipment and landscaping.
About 468 million baht will be used for adjustments and developing the departure and arrival halls and the remainder will be used for purchasing the necessary tools and equipment for the airport.
Airport Director Admiral Wasinsan Janthawarin says that more and more airlines are interested in flying at U-Tapao . The development of the airport coincides with a marketing plan for the east coast, which covers Rayong Samet Island and Pattaya. The goal is to relieve Suvanabhumi Airport about 90 miles north Pattaya. That can be done by letting charter flights arrive and depart from U-Tapao Airport , which is just 30 km south of Pattaya.
Vice Adm. Surapong Aisayanont, a consultant for the Royal Thai Navy-administered airport, said U-Tapao currently handles about 40,000-50,000 passengers. With the expansion, the airport could become the home of flights currently flying out of Bangkok’s old Don Muang International Airport, he predicted.
The Ministry of Transport also has ambitious plans to establish an Airport Rail Link connecting U-Tapao Airport and Suvarnabhumi airport . This is a distance of approximately 120 km . Experts expect that this plan will not be feasible due to the high costs.