U-Tapao Airport and Eastern Aviation City
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- U-Tapao Airport and Eastern Aviation City
The U-Tapao Airport and Eastern Aviation City Development Project
was initiated under the government’s policy to Thailand as a regional aviation hub.
The project aligns with the national development strategy, particularly in enhancing the country’s competitiveness,
and complements other key plans, including the Twelfth National Economic and Social Development Plan;
the 20-Year Strategy for the Thailand 4.0 scheme of the Ministry of Industry; the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Development Plan
by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC); the Ministry of Transport’s strategic plans;
and the U-Tapao Airport Development Plan.
Current Status of U-Tapao Airport
Location:
Phla Subdistrict, Ban Chang District, Rayong Province
Airport Specifications:
The airport covers a total area of approximately 16,700 rai and has one runway (Runway 1) with a length of about 3,500 meters. The western side of this runway serves as the operational area of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN).
Passenger Terminals:
U-Tapao Airport currently operates commercial services through Passenger Terminal 1 and Passenger Terminal 2, with a combined handling capacity of approximately 3.7 million passengers per year. รวม 3.7 ล้านคนต่อปี
Approval of the Project for Inclusion in the EEC Project List
On 6 July 2017, the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee (EEC Policy Committee) approved the U-Tapao Airport and Eastern Aviation City Development Project for inclusion in the EEC Project List, in accordance with the announcement of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand (EECO) on criteria, methods, conditions, and procedures for the private joint investment B.E. 2560 (2017) and its amendments. Subsequently, on 23 February 2018, the Committee issued a Royal Gazette announcement designating an area of over 6,500 rai surrounding U-Tapao Airport in Rayong Province as the “Promotion Zone: Eastern Aviation City,” or Eastern Airport City (EECa), to support aviation and logistics industries. The Promotion Zone forms the site of the U-Tapao Airport Development Project and is divided into three main areas:
1. Area under private sector responsibility
2. Area under government responsibility
3. Airport safety and security zones
Project Development Timeline
2017
The government designated 6,500 rai surrounding U-Tapao International Airport as a promotional zone for the Eastern Aviation City and included the U-Tapao Airport and Eastern Aviation City Development Project in the EEC Project List.
2020
The joint investment contract for the U-Tapao Airport and Eastern Aviation City Development Project was signed between EECO and U-Tapao International Aviation Co., Ltd. (UTA)
2021
2021 UTA submitted the final Master Plan for U-Tapao Airport Development to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) for consideration, and CAAT approved the details of the Master Plan.
2022
- The National Environment Board approved the Environmental and Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) Report for the construction of the second runway and associated taxiway at U-Tapao International Airport.
- The Cabinet approved the construction of Motorway No. 7 to provide direct link to the airport.
- EECO notified UTA of the commencement of concession rights under the joint investment agreement.
2023
- The Cabinet approved Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd. (AEROTHAI) to implement the project for preparing air navigation services at U-Tapao Airport.
- The RTN issued invitation to bid for the construction of the second runway and taxiway at U-Tapao International Airport and for construction supervision consulting services.
2024
EECO handed over the project site to the private investor.
2025
- The Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) signed a loan agreement with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the RTN signed the construction contract and the construction supervision consultancy contract for the second runway and taxiway at U-Tapao International Airport.
- The Royal Government Gazette published the EEC Policy Committee’s Notification Re: The expansion of the promotional zone for the Eastern Aviation City (EECa), covering an additional area of approximately 714 rai.
Project Principles
At its meeting on 4 October 2018, the EEC Policy Committee approved the project principles, designating the RTN and the EECO as the lead agencies responsible for implementation. Subsequently, on 30 October 2018, the Cabinet approved the project in accordance with the Committee’s resolution.
Project Objectives
(1) Enable public and private agencies to collaborate by sharing funding sources and combining expertise and technical knowledge to design, construct, operate, and maintain U-Tapao Airport to world-class standards, incorporating advanced safety, security, passenger services, and modern technology.
(2) Equip U-Tapao Airport to support the transformation of the EEC into Eastern Airport City and establish Thailand as a regional aviation hub.
(3) Develop U-Tapao Airport as an international airport capable of supporting the growth of Thailand’s aviation industry.
(4) Promote the transfer of knowledge and modern airport development technologies for world-class airport operations to public agencies and personnel across both the public and private sectors in Thailand.
Project Goal
The U-Tapao Airport and Eastern Aviation City Development Project aims to establish a world-class international airport capable of accommodating the anticipated growth in passengers, cargo, and flights fueled by economic expansion within the EEC. The airport is expected to support sustainable economic and social development, positioning Thailand as a regional hub, a gateway for trade, and a center for regional transportation. With a target capacity of up to 60 million passengers per year, the project will enhance passenger handling capabilities and create investment opportunities in both the short and long term.
Project Details
The EECO and the private partner, U-Tapao International Aviation Co., Ltd. (UTA), signed the joint investment agreement for the project development on 19 June 2020. The agreement outlines the investment details, responsibilities, and key information to guide the development and operation of the airport:
Contract signing date:
19 June 2020
Private partner:
U-Tapao International Aviation Co., Ltd. (UTA) [https://uta.co.th/]
Project area:
7,214 rai
Concession period:
50 years
Maximum passenger capacity:
60 million passengers per year
Project investment:
217,949 million baht
(Government: 24,697 million baht; Private Sector: 193,252 million baht)
Government return (present value):
305,555 million baht with an EIRR of 30.1%
EECO is the public contracting authority in the partnership with UTA
Project Progress and Implementation Status
Project Progress and Implementation Status
Second Runway and Associated Taxiways
Responsible Agency: Royal Thai Navy (RTN)
Progress: Awaiting notice to commence work
EHIA Compliance
Responsible Agencies: Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand (EECO) and RTN
Progress: Ongoing
Aeronautical Meteorology
Responsible Agency: RTN
Progress: Construction preparations underway
New Air Traffic Control Tower
Responsible Agency: Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd. (AEROTHAI)
Progress: Construction preparations underway
Elevated Road Connecting Motorway No. 7 to the Airport
Responsible Agency: Department of Highways (DOH)
Progress: Construction contract signed on 6 October 2025
Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Systems
Responsible Agencies: EECO and Eastern Water Resources Development and Management Public Company Limited (EW)
Progress: Under construction
Power Supply and District Cooling Systems
Responsible Agencies: EECO and B.Grimm Power Public Company Limited (B.Grimm)
Progress: Under construction
Aircraft Refueling System
Responsible Agencies: EECO and Global Aero Associates Co., Ltd. (GAA)
Progress: Under construction
Aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Zone
Responsible Agency: EECO
Progress: In the process of selecting a project operator
U-Tapao Aviation and Space Training Center
Responsible Agency: Civil Aviation Training Center (CATC)
Progress: Feasibility study under review
Project Development by Private Sector
U-Tapao High-Speed Rail Station / Track
Responsible Agencies: State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and Asia Era One Co., Ltd. (AERA-1)
Progress: Awaiting NTP
Passenger Terminals 3 and 4
Responsible Agency: U-Tapao International Aviation Co., Ltd. (UTA)
Progress: Awaiting NTP
Aviation City
Responsible Agency: UTA
Progress: Awaiting NTP
Cargo and Logistics Center
Responsible Agency: UTA
Progress: Awaiting NTP
Financial and Economic Returns
Return to the Private Partner
The private partner is required to pay the government land rental and a revenue-sharing portion of 5% of the actual gross revenue earned by the private partner and its sub-concessionaires, before deduction of expenses. The agreement also sets minimum annual payments as specified in the joint investment contract. Over the full concession period, the total government return as of 2018, using a discount rate of 3.76%, is estimated at 305,555,184,968 baht in present value, derived from a total nominal value of 1,326 billion baht.
Return to the Country
The project is expected to generate economic benefits of approximately 189,000 million baht, excluding the creation of around 15,640 new jobs per year throughout the concession period. In addition, the advanced technology and all project assets will revert to the state upon completion of the concession, with the project demonstrating an Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) of 30.1%.
Environmental Management
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and the EEC Policy Committee initiated the construction of the second runway and affiliated taxiways, with a runway length of 3,505 meters, to expand U-Tapao International Airport’s capacity to accommodate up to 70 million passengers per year by 2048. In compliance with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) regulations, the project required the preparation of an Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) report, which was completed and approved by the National Environment Board (NEB) on 17 February 2022.
