U-Tapao Flughafen und Entwicklungsprojekt der Eastern Aviation City

More Than an Airport

The project extends well beyond aviation, building a business hub around tourism, logistics and aviation that planners are calling the 'Eastern Aviation Metropolis'. It fits the Eastern Seaboard's broader ambition to become a major port and business city, extending Bangkok's connectivity eastward by land, sea and air.

Where and How Big

The development spans over 6,500 rai in Phala Subdistrict, Ban Chang District, Rayong Province, within the Eastern Aviation City promotion zone, close to Pattaya and the neighbourhoods positioned to benefit most from the improved connectivity.

Where Things Stand

• Runway: 3,500m long, 60m wide, with 52 parking spots, capacity for up to 20 million passengers a year
• Terminal 1: currently handles around 700,000 passengers annually
• Terminal 2: will lift capacity to roughly 3 million passengers a year, up from about 1.5 million

Given the proximity to Bangkok and the region's pull on global investors, the longer-term target is at least 60 million passengers a year. For how infrastructure projects tend to move property values, see Property Capital Appreciation: Why Bangsaray Is One to Watch.

What's Next

With a third passenger terminal opening via private investment around 2025-2026, U-Tapao is expected to handle roughly 8 million passengers a year, at a point when Don Mueang is forecast to be over capacity, making U-Tapao's role in meeting demand increasingly important.

The Bigger Picture

At a total investment of USD 6.23 billion, the project is designed to drive national economic growth, support the aviation industry and promote sustainable development, while enhancing the appeal of Pattaya real estate for investors tied to infrastructure growth. See Pattaya: Still the Beating Heart of Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor for the wider regional context.

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