Bangkok Airways (PG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) could upgrade its existing Utapao operations following news that the Thai government intends to develop the airfield into a new regional hub capable of handling over 3million passengers per annum.
The airport, which currently operates as a joint civilian/military installation, has strong tourism potential in that it is located approximately 140km southeast of Bangkok, and is also a 45-minute drive from the popular Thai beach resort of Pattaya.
According to the Bangkok Post, Thai Transport deputy permanent secretary, Woradej Harnprasert, says the Thai Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and Royal Thai Navy (Bangkok Don Mueang) have given their blessing to the plan which will see a new passenger terminal being built featuring three air bridges among other upgrades.
In addition to the enlargement of roads leading to the airport, a new electrified rail line connecting the airport to Bangkok Don Mueang and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi is also on the cards.
Aside from Bangkok Airways, Utapao sees charter traffic from the likes of China Airlines (CI, Taipei Taoyuan), China Southern Airlines (CZ, Guangzhou), China Eastern Airlines (MU, Shanghai Hongqiao), JAL - Japan Airlines (JL, Tokyo Haneda), Korean Air (KE, Seoul Incheon), and UTair (UT, Khanty-Mansiysk) during the winter high season.
