Pattaya International Airport - Pattaya People newspaper Thailand

Finally after many years of bickering over upgrading the U-Tapao airport decisions have been made and the go ahead approved so that Pattaya will have its very own international airport. A meeting was held on the 3rd September at Pattaya City Hall with Mayor Ittipol Khunplome, Rear Admiral Surapong Aisanon, Deputy Director of Utapao International Airport, Deputy Mayor Ronnakit Aegesing, and other related departments.
Approval has been given to the Royal Thai Navy, who operates the U-Tapao airport, with a budget of 995 million baht to expand and update the airport. Buildings, equipment and runways plus the construction of a state of art passenger terminal 4 times the size of the existing one will be built to bring the airport up to an international standard. U-Tapao, when all essential improvements have been met, will be renamed U-Tapao Pattaya International Airport and will in fact become the gateway to Pattaya. So, with the upgrade planned for the end of next year, Pattaya will soon have its very own international airport capable of handling 1,500 passengers an hour and most importantly saving time as the airport is only 35 minutes away from our fair city. And because of the airport’s new international status, it will register and define Pattaya worldwide as a major tourist destination.