Bid to develop U-tapao as ommercial airport

Transport Minister Chadchart Sithipan has instructed the Civil Aviation Department to conduct a feasibility study on construction of a second runway at U-tapao Airport as part of its plan to transform this airbase into a commercial airport alongside Don Mueang International Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport.

U-tapao Airport is spending Bt200 million to expand its capacity to serve 3 million passengers a year from the current 600,000 a year.

"The number of charter flights at U-tapao has risen and it will also be linked with the high-speed railway in the future, which will bring more passengers to the airport. Therefore, there is a need to develop it as a new commercial airport," Chadchart said.

The Nation