The airport is a joint navy-public service facility and minister Juntong says once agreement has been reached, the first phase of the project will be launched. This stage will see the U-Tapao passenger building extended so that it can handle up to three million passengers every year.
The current capacity of the airport is 800,000 although its runways date from the Vietnam War and are long enough to enable it to handle larger aircraft than it does. The next phase of the development is scheduled to start in 2018 and will further increase annual passenger throughput capability to five million.
The second phase of the project is scheduled to take two years to complete. After this has been completed, the third phase kicks in and will add an extra runway and see commercial premises built adjacent to the airport.
Thai government sets timetable for U-Tapao expansion
News in Asia
The Thai government has set a timetable for a programme to increase the capacity of Pattaya’s U-Tapao International Airport to five million passengers per year. Transport-minister Prajin Juntong stated late last week that the government intended to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Royal Thai Navy this month that will give the expansion the green light.