Thailand's eastern seaboard gateway serving Pattaya and Rayong.
Opened
1961
Location
Rayong, Thailand
U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport (IATA: UTP, ICAO: VTBU) is an international airport located in Rayong Province, Thailand, approximately 180 km southeast of Bangkok. It serves the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) region, including the popular tourist destinations of Pattaya and the industrial city of Rayong.
The airport has a dual civilian-military function, operating alongside Royal Thai Navy facilities on the same airfield. It handles both scheduled commercial flights and charter operations, with capacity expansion projects underway as part of Thailand's ambitious EEC development plan.
U-Tapao has been designated as a key aviation hub under the Thai government's EEC initiative, with plans to significantly expand passenger capacity and develop an aerospace maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) industry cluster nearby.
Terminals
The airport operates a single passenger terminal that handles both domestic and international flights, with expansion under development.
Getting to & from
Ground transport options include taxis, private transfers, and shuttle services connecting the airport to Pattaya, Rayong, and Bangkok, with no direct rail link currently available.
Airlines here
Airlines serving U-Tapao have included Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, and various international charter carriers connecting the region to China and other Asian markets.
Notable facts
- ›U-Tapao was used as a major U.S. Air Force base during the Vietnam War for B-52 bombing missions.
- ›The airport is jointly operated by the Royal Thai Navy and the Airports of Thailand (AOT).
- ›It is a cornerstone of Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) development strategy.
- ›A major expansion project aims to increase annual passenger capacity to over 60 million in the long term.
- ›The airfield sits roughly 15 km from Rayong city center and about 30 km from Pattaya.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
