U-Tapao International Airport#Vietnam War
{{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=November 2019}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = {{nowrap|U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport}}
| ensign =
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| nativename = {{lang|th|ท่าอากาศยานอู่ตะเภา ระยอง–พัทยา}}
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| image = U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport.png
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| IATA = UTP
| ICAO = VTBU
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| type = Public / military
| owner-oper =
| owner = Royal Thai Navy
| operator = Department of Airports
| city-served = {{ubl|class=nowrap
| Rayong province}}
| location = Ban Chang district, Rayong province, Thailand
| opened = {{start date and age|1966|06|02|df=yes}}
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| 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}}
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| mapframe = yes
| pushpin_map = Thailand Rayong Province#Thailand Bay of Bangkok#Thailand
| pushpin_mapsize = 270
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| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in Rayong Province##Location of airport in the Bay of Bangkok##Location of airport in Thailand
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| pushpin_label = UTP/VTBU
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| r1-number = 18/36
| r1-length-f = 11,500
| r1-length-m = 3,505
| r1-surface = Asphalt
| metric-rwy = yes
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| stat1-data = 1,860,794
| stat-year = 2018
| footnotes = Source: DAFIF{{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=2019-03-05|title=Airport information for VTBU|website=World Aero Data}} Data current as of October 2006. Source: DAFIF.{{GCM|UTP|source=DAFIF}}
}}
U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport {{airport codes|UTP|VTBU}}, also spelled Utapao and U-Taphao, is a joint civil–military public international airport serving the cities of Rayong and Pattaya in Eastern Thailand. It is in the Ban Chang district of Rayong province.{{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 }}{{cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.utapao.com/ |website=U-Tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport |access-date=23 November 2018}}
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.{{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}} Due to the blockade of Bangkok's airports by opposition protesters, U-Tapao briefly became the main air gateway to Thailand between 26 November and 5 December 2008. As both of Bangkok's international airports essential to the country's tourist boom are operating beyond capacity as of 2015,{{cite web|url=http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2015/10/new-terminal-to-boost-u-tapao-airport/|title=New terminal to boost U-Tapao Airport}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Don-Mueang-is-worlds-busiest-LCC-30268848.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917024118/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Don-Mueang-is-worlds-busiest-LCC-30268848.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 September 2015|title=Don Mueang is world's busiest LCC|date=15 September 2015|work=The Nation}} U-Tapao in particular has been eyed as an alternate international gateway due to its relative proximity to the capital.
Location
U-Tapao lies approximately {{convert|90|mi|km}} southeast of Bangkok, south of Sukhumvit Road at Km. 189, near Sattahip on the Gulf of Thailand, about a 45-minute drive from Pattaya (Thailand's most popular beach resort).
History
=Vietnam War=
{{Main article|U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield#American use of U-Tapao 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.{{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}} Construction began on 15 October 1965 and was completed on 2 June 1966.{{cite web |title=History |url=http://www.utapao.com/utphistory.php |website=U-Tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport |access-date=24 April 2019}} U-Tapao was the primary Southeast Asian airfield for USAF B-52 bombers, called "Bee-hasip-sawng" (B-52) by the local Thais.{{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}} 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.{{cite web |title=Bob Hope Visit |url=http://www.pbase.com/635thk9/bob_hope_visit |website=Thailand Dog Handlers |access-date=3 February 2019}}
=November 2008 protests in Bangkok=
With the temporary closure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in late November 2008 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.{{cite web|url=http://fli.ana.co.jp/fs/intenmenu|title=ANA International Flight Status |publisher=Fli.ana.co.jp }}{{cite web|url=http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_INTL/specialupdates|title=Cathay Pacific|website=Cathay Pacific}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{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}}{{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}}Page 6, South China Morning Post, 30 November 2008.{{nonspecific|date=May 2018}} Several governments including Italy, Macau and Spain also sent chartered flights to evacuate residents.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
As many as 100,000 passengers were stranded in Thailand until early December. Although its runway can accommodate large aircraft, U-Tapao's terminals are not designed to handle more than a few flights a day. Travellers were subject to many hardships, and as the security was not up-to-date, some US-bound flights were diverted to Japan and their passengers required to go through a supplementary security check before continuing.
=Airport expansion=
As Bangkok's two international airports are operating beyond capacity, the government intends to turn U-Tapao into a third major destination for airlines. A new second terminal will increase airport capacity from 800,000 to three million persons per year. Terminal 2 was partially opened in November 2018 and was officially opened in February 2019.{{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}}
There were also 41 direct flights landing from China weekly.{{cite web |url=http://www.utapao.com/ |title=Home |website=utapao.com}} Airport director, Rear Admiral Worapol Tongpricha, said the 620 million baht terminal is the start of a three-year, first-phase development. In the second phase, the government will boost the capacity further to 15 million passengers per year.{{cite news|title=U-Tapao airport takes new leap|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1015633/u-tapao-airport-takes-new-leap|access-date=21 June 2016|work=Bangkok Post|date=21 June 2016}}
In November 2022, the Thai Government approved another expansion plan for U-Tapao, to increase its capacity to 60 million passengers per year. It is planned to add a new runway, taxiways and facilities to increase Pattaya's and Bangkok's air passenger capacity, and also boost connections to the Eastern Economic Corridor.{{Cite web |last=Mail |first=Pattaya |date=2022-11-06 |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=2022-11-09 |website=Pattaya Mail |language=en-US}}
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.{{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}}
Airlines and destinations
{{Airport-dest-list
| AirAsia | Kuala Lumpur–International{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240318-akjun24utp|title=AirAsia Resumes Kuala Lumpur – Utapao Service in June 2024|website=AeroRoutes|access-date=18 March 2024}}
| Azur Air | Seasonal charter: Barnaul, Blagoveshchensk, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk–International, Moscow–Vnukovo,{{cite news |title=AZUR Air Expands Phuket Network in NW23 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231102-zfnw23hkt |access-date=2 November 2023 |work=AeroRoutes |date=2 November 2023 |language=en-CA}} Novokuznetsk, Novosibirsk, Samara, Tomsk,{{cite web |title=Авиакомпания AZUR air открывает прямые рейсы из Томска в Паттайю. |url=https://tomskairport.ru/mediacenter/news/165631/ |website=tomskairport.ru |publisher=ООО «Аэропорт ТОМСК» |access-date=23 January 2024}} Ufa, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg
| {{nowrap|Bangkok Airways}} | Koh Samui, Phuket
| S7 Airlines | Irkutsk{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=S7 Airlines Files Irkutsk – Utapao Schedule in 2Q25 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241121-s72q25utp |access-date=21 November 2024 |work=AeroRoutes |date=21 November 2024 |language=en-CA}}
| SCAT Airlines | Seasonal charter: Almaty, Astana
| Thai Lion Air | Chiang Mai, Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta (begins 25 June 2025),{{cite web |title=New Route: Jakarta - Pattaya (U-Tapao)|url=https://www.lionairthai.com/id/New-Route/U-Tapao-Jakarta|website=lionairthai}} Udon Thani (begins 11 June 2025){{cite web |title=Thai Lion Air June 2025 Domestic Routes Addition |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250421-sljun25th |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=21 April 2025}}
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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.{{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}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|U-Tapao International Airport}}
- [https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2844077/airport-project-gets-phumtham-review?tbref=hp Airport project gets Phumtham review]. 2024-08-09. Bangkok Post
- [http://www.thaiflyingclub.com/linkairportutaphao.html U-Taphao Airport]
- [https://pattayaairportguide.com Pattaya Airport Guide] (passenger information and real time flight arrivals / departures)
- {{NWS-current|VTBU}}
- {{ASN|UTP}}
{{Portalbar|Thailand|Aviation}}
{{Airports in Thailand}}
{{Asia topic|List of the busiest airports in}}
{{authority control}}