{{Short description|Commercial airport serving Pattaya, Thailand}} {{Redirect|U-Tapao|the military use of this facility|U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield|other uses|U Tapao (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox airport | name = {{nowrap|U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport}} | ensign = | ensign_size = | ensign_alt = | nativename = {{lang|th|ท่าอากาศยานอู่ตะเภา ระยอง–พัทยา}} | nativename-a = | nativename-r = | image = U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport.png | image_size = <!-- if less than 220 --> | image_alt = | caption = | image2 = | image2_size = <!-- if less than 220 --> | image2_alt = | caption2 = | IATA = UTP | ICAO = VTBU | FAA = | TC = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = | type = Public / military | owner-oper = | owner = | operator = Royal Thai Navy | city-served = {{nowrap|Chonburi and Rayong provinces}} | location = Ban Chang, Rayong, Thailand | opened = {{start date and age|1966|06|02|df=yes}} | closed = <!-- {{end date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | passenger_services_ceased = <!-- {{end date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | hub = {{ubl|class=nowrap | Budgetline<ref>[http://flybudgetlines.com/cargo.html flybudget line]</ref> | Pattaya Airways<ref>[https://www.pattaya-airways.com/ pattaya airways]</ref>}}<!-- If more than one airline, use {{Unbulleted list|Airline1|Airline2}} --> | focus_city = <!-- If more than one airline, use {{Unbulleted list|Airline1|Airline2}} --> | operating_base = <!-- If more than one airline, use {{Unbulleted list|Airline1|Airline2}} --> | built = <!-- military airports --> | used = <!-- military airports --> | commander = <!-- military airports --> | occupants = <!-- military airports --> | timezone = | utc = | summer = | utcs = | elevation-f = 42 | elevation-m = 13 | metric-elev = yes | coordinates = {{coord|12|40|47|N|101|00|18|E|type:airport_region:TH|display=inline, title}} | website = {{URL|www.utapao.com}} | image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=12|frame-latitude=12.679722|frame-longitude=101.005}} | image_mapsize = | image_map_alt = | image_map_caption = | mapframe = yes | pushpin_map = Thailand Rayong Province#Thailand Bay of Bangkok#Thailand | pushpin_mapsize = 270 | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in Rayong Province##Location of airport in the Bay of Bangkok##Location of airport in Thailand | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_image = | pushpin_label = '''UTP'''/VTBU | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_mark = | pushpin_marksize = | r1-number = 18/36 | r1-length-f = 11,500 | r1-length-m = 3,505 | r1-surface = Asphalt | metric-rwy = yes | h1-number = | h1-length-f = | h1-length-m = | h1-surface = <!-- up to h12 --> | stat1-header = Total passengers<ref>{{Cite web|title=Passenger statistics for 2015–2019|url=http://www.utapao.com/pdf/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%96%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%B9%E0%B9%89%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%20100462.pdf|website=U-Tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport|language=th}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> | stat1-data = 370,210 {{decrease}}0.17% | stat2-header = International passengers | stat2-data = 227,506 {{decrease}}0.26% | stat3-header = Domestic passengers | stat3-data = 142,704 {{increase}}0.04% | stat4-header = Aircraft movements | stat4-data = 5,788 {{decrease}}0.05% | stat-year = October 2023 - September 2024 | footnotes = Source: DAFIF<ref>{{cite web|url-status=usurped|url=http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?airport=VTBU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305143444/http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?airport=VTBU|archive-date=5 March 2019|title=Airport information for VTBU|website=World Aero Data}} Data current as of October 2006. Source: DAFIF.</ref><ref>{{GCM|UTP|source=DAFIF}}</ref> }}
'''U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport''' {{airport codes|UTP|VTBU}}, also spelled ''Utapao'' and ''U-Taphao'', is a dual-use civil–military public international airport serving the cities of Rayong and Pattaya in Eastern Thailand in the Ban Chang district of Rayong province.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.utapao.com/files/UTP%20PROFILE.pdf |title=U Tapao-Pattaya International Airport|publisher=U Tapao Airport Authority|access-date=6 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525234510/http://www.utapao.com/files/UTP%20PROFILE.pdf |archive-date=25 May 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.utapao.com/ |website=U-Tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport |access-date=23 November 2018}}</ref> It also serves as the U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, home of the Royal Thai Navy First Air Wing. U-Tapao is the home of a large Thai Airways maintenance facility, servicing that airline's aircraft as well as those of other customers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thaitechnical.com/UtpFrame.htm |title= Thai Airways International: Technical Department --- U-Tapao Second Maintenance Center ---|website=www.thaitechnical.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706132653/http://www.thaitechnical.com/UtpFrame.htm |archive-date=6 July 2008}}</ref>
==History==
===Vietnam War=== {{Main article|U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield#American use of U-Tapao during the Vietnam War | l1= American use of U-Tapao Airport during the Vietnam War}}
U-Tapao was built by the United States to accommodate B-52 bombers for missions in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia during the Vietnam War.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Janssen |first1=Peter |title=Military airbase set for commercial take-off in Thailand |url=https://asiatimes.com/article/military-airbase-set-commercial-take-off-thailand/ |access-date=3 February 2019 |work=Asia Times |date=6 June 2017}}</ref> Construction began on 15 October 1965 and was completed on 2 June 1966.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=http://www.utapao.com/utphistory.php |website=U-Tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport |access-date=24 April 2019 |archive-date=30 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330145049/http://www.utapao.com/utphistory.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> U-Tapao was the primary Southeast Asian airfield for USAF B-52 bombers, called "Bee-hasip-sawng" (B-52) by the local Thais.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ellis |first1=John |title=U-Tapao Air Base |url=http://cohojohn.tripod.com/thailand/id1.html |website=Cohojohn.tripod.com |access-date=3 February 2019 |format=Historical photos}}</ref> U-Tapao was a front-line base along with the other US bases at Korat, Udon, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, and Takhli. The USAF B-52s made regular sorties over North Vietnam and North Vietnamese-controlled areas in Laos, carrying an average of 108 500-pound and 750-pound bombs per mission. U-Tapao was a regular stop on Bob Hope's Christmas shows for the troops.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bob Hope Visit |url=http://www.pbase.com/635thk9/bob_hope_visit |website=Thailand Dog Handlers |access-date=3 February 2019}}</ref>
===Accidents and incidents===
* On 28 October 1977, a Douglas DC-3 of Vietnam Airlines en route from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City, to Duong Dong Airport, Phu Quoc, Vietnam, was hijacked and diverted to U-Tapao Air Base to refuel. Two Vietnamese officials on the aircraft were killed in the hijacking.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19771028-1 |title=Hijacking description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref>
* In 2008, with the temporary closure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in late November because they had been occupied by anti-government protestors, U-Tapao became for a time Thailand's main supplementary international gateway. Many airlines arranged special flights to and from U-Tapao to ferry international passengers stranded by the closure of the Suvarnabhumi Airport.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fli.ana.co.jp/fs/intenmenu |title=ANA International Flight Status |publisher=Fli.ana.co.jp |access-date=2 December 2008 |archive-date=13 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813085141/http://fli.ana.co.jp/fs/intenmenu |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_INTL/specialupdates|title=Cathay Pacific|website=Cathay Pacific}}</ref>{{cbignore|bot=medic}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Latest update on Bangkok, Utapao and Europe flights|url=http://www.evaair.com/html/b2c/english/eva/News/2008/LatestupdateonBangkokFlights.htm|website=EVA Airways|access-date=27 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202004509/http://www.evaair.com/html/b2c/english/eva/News/2008/LatestupdateonBangkokFlights.htm|archive-date=2 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=THAI Operates 34 Special Inbound and Outbound Flights on 2 December 2008|url=http://www.thaiair.com/Homepage/announce/sbia_situation_01dec.htm|website=THAI|access-date=27 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205061406/http://www.thaiair.com/Homepage/announce/sbia_situation_01dec.htm|archive-date=5 December 2008}}</ref><ref>Page 6, ''South China Morning Post'', 30 November 2008.{{nonspecific|date=May 2018}}</ref>
===Concessions===
In late 2018, King Power was awarded a ten-year contract to operate U-Tapao duty-free shops. A partnership between Thai retailer Central Department Store Company (Central Group) and DFS Group will manage retail shops and services, mainly food and beverage, also for 10 years.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Moodie |first1=Martin |title=King Power wins U-Tapao Airport duty free contract; Central Group/DFS alliance gains duty paid and services |url=https://www.moodiedavittreport.com/king-power-wins-u-tapao-airport-duty-free-contract-central-group-dfs-alliance-gains-duty-paid-and-services/ |access-date=23 November 2018 |website=The Moodie Davitt Report |date=21 November 2018}}</ref>
==Airlines and destinations== {{incomplete list|date=May 2026}} <!-- Please use only independent sources. The airport and airlines itself are not independent sources. --> {{Airport-dest-list <!-- --> | {{nowrap|Bangkok Airways}} | Koh Samui,<ref>{{OAGWorldAug2025Ref|title=Ko Samui, Thailand USM|pages=638-638}}</ref> Phuket<ref>{{OAGWorldAug2025Ref|title=Phuket, Thailand HKT|pages=1033-1034}}</ref> }}
==Location and transport== {{anchor | Location | Transport }} {{more sources section|date=May 2026}} U-Tapao Airport near Sattahip on the Gulf of Thailand, about {{convert|50|km|mi}} south of Pattaya's Walking Street, is {{convert|140|km|mi}} south of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport and {{convert|190|km|mi}} south of Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport.
{{anchor | Bus}} * Bus ** From Suvarnabhumi Airport Level-1 (Ground Floor) near Gate-8, buses are available to Pattaya's ''North Pattaya Bus Terminal'' (6 km north of Walking Street) and the ''Pattaya Jomtien Bus Station'' (4 km south of Walking Street). ** From Don Mueang Airport's (DMK) first-floor of terminal from platform 4-5, buses are available to Pattaya taking 30 minutes travel time with drop off points in Pattaya at ''North Pattaya Junction'', ''Central Pattaya Junction'', ''South Pattaya Junction'', and ''Thepprasit Junction''.
{{anchor | Highway}} * Highway: ** Motorway 7 connects Pattaya to Bangkok.
{{anchor | Rail | HSR}} * Rail ** U Tapao Airport will be directly connected to the Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang International Airport, both in Bangkok, via the under-construction Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed railway linking Thailand's top 3 busiest airports.<ref name="nationthailand.com-2025"/>
==Future: airport expansion plan== {{anchor | Future }}
Expansion plan was envisaged in 2018,<ref name="The Nation-2018"/> project financing for the 6 phase development plan with annual passenger capacity of 60 million<ref name="nationthailand.com-2025"/> was approved in 2022,<ref name="Mail-2022"/> and partial implementation of phase-1 commenced in November 2025 with commencement of construction of the second runway.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aseannow.com/topic/1380248-navy-launches-second-runway-project-at-u-tapao-airport/ |title=Navy Launches Second Runway Project at U-Tapao Airport |website=aseannow.com |date=29 November 2025}}</ref> Since Bangkok's two international airports are operating beyond capacity, the government envisaged to expand U-Tapao into a third major airport of Thailand. Consequently, U Tapao Terminal 2 was officially opened in February 2019.<ref name="The Nation-2018">{{cite news |title=Terminal 2 at U-Tapao airport to be fully opened in February |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/detail/breakingnews/30358145 |access-date=4 December 2018 |work=The Nation |date=8 November 2018}}</ref> The 2022 Thai Government approved 6 phase<ref name="nationthailand.com-2025"/> expansion plan for U-Tapao Airport, envisages its annual passenger capacity to 60 million with runway expansions, several new and better connectivity to the Eastern Economic Corridor.<ref name="Mail-2022">{{Cite web |last=Mail |first=Pattaya |date=6 November 2022 |title=Massive expansion approved for U-Tapao-Rayong-Pattaya International Airport |url=https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/massive-expansion-approved-for-u-tapao-rayong-pattaya-international-airport-415363 |access-date=9 November 2022 |website=Pattaya Mail |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2025, the partial implementation of phase-1 of U Tapao Airport expansion plan was scaled down from 6 million to 3 million passengers per year due to the delay in construction of Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed railway (High-Speed Rail Linking Three Busiest Airports of Thailand), and the full phase-1 with 6 million passenger capacity will be implemented once the 80% of High Speed Rail passenger numbers target is achieved.<ref name="nationthailand.com-2025">{{cite web |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/business/economy/40052819 |title=U-Tapao Airport Expansion Hits Turbulence as Phase 1 Investment Scale Reviewed |website=nationthailand.com |date=21 July 2025}}</ref>
After much delay, U-Tapao Airport expansion and Eastern Aviation City construction project is reported to begin on 3 April 2026. The project is led by U-Tapao International Aviation Co., Ltd. (UTA), wherein Bangkok Airways and BTS Group each holds 40%, and Stecon Group holds the remaining 20%.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 March 2026 |title=U-Tapao airport set for April 3 start after long delay |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/business/investment/40064351 |access-date=28 March 2026 |website=nationthailand |language=en-US}}</ref>
==See also==
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category-inline|U-Tapao International Airport}}
* [http://www.utapao.com/ Official website of U Tapao Airport] * [https://pattayaairportguide.com Pattaya Airport Guide] (passenger information and real time flight arrivals / departures) * [http://www.thaiflyingclub.com/linkairportutaphao.html U-Taphao Airport] * {{NWS-current|VTBU}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20081201171533/http://aviation-safety.net/database/airport/airport.php?id=UTP Accident history for UTP] at Aviation Safety Network
{{Portalbar|Thailand|Aviation}} {{Airports in Thailand}} {{Asia topic|List of the busiest airports in}} {{authority control}}
Category:Airports in Thailand Category:Rayong province Category:1966 establishments in Thailand Category:Airports established in 1966