U-Tapao's Second Runway: Construction to Begin with a 36-Month Timeline

Construction of U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport's second runway will begin this year, with a 36-month completion target. This project, part of Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) development, is funded through a loan from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Italian-Thai Development (ITD), in partnership with the Royal Thai Navy, has been awarded the contract.

The 3,505-meter runway will be 1,140 meters from the current one, increasing the airport’s capacity to 70 flights per hour, including wide-body aircraft, with a total investment of 15.2 billion baht.

However, potential delays in the high-speed rail line connecting Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports remain a concern. The tunnel for the rail line, integral to the runway project, must be completed within 18 months. If delayed, the EEC may transfer tunnel responsibility to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to avoid impacting the runway schedule.

U-Tapao International Aviation is also planning a large-scale development across 6,500 rai, with an estimated 100 billion baht investment in the first phase. Completion is expected within five years.