No-frills carrier AirAsia made U-tapao its fifth base in July, causing a leap in passenger throughput unseen since it was handed over by the US in August 1966.
U-tapao expects to handle 200,000 passengers this calendar year, up from 120,000 last year
Airport management expects the number will reach 800,000 to 900,000 next year, rising to 1.5 million in 2017 and between 1.5 and 3 million in 2018.