Third airport for Bangkok planned
Bangkok is to get its third commercial airport, after the Thai military government agreed to redevelop a naval air base in Rayong province.
The U-Tapao air base will be developed in multiple stages starting with the construction of a new passenger terminal, taxiways and aircraft parking bays in 2016.
The government said it expects the airport to officially open for commercial flights in 2017.
Currently able to accommodate up to 800,000 passengers a year, upgrades will enable it to handle up to five million passenger movements a year by 2020.
Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said it would continue to serve military air traffic alongside commercial flights.
The airport is within a one hour drive of the beach resort city of Pattaya, and a new highway will be constructed to speed up travel to and from the airport.
U-Tapao currently handles charter flights from Russia and China, but would eventually be developed as a low cost carrier hub, Prajin said.
Budget carrier AirAsia recently announced it would start flying to U-Tapao from its Kuala Lumpur hub and has expressed interest in expanding international routes from the airport.
"We already have a strong base in China and Chinese tourists like coming to Pattaya for holidays, so it makes sense for us to set up a new air link at U-Tapao," Thai AirAsia commercial director Santisuk Klongchaiya said.
U-Tapao was previously used as a US air base during the Vietnam War.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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