Thai Airways International (TG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Royal Thai Navy over the first phase of the Special Eastern Economic Corridor development.

According to a press release, the two entities will cooperate and exchange information, in addition to conducting a joint study, involving the development of an Aircraft Maintenance Center & Air Cargo and Logistics Centre at Utapao International Airport.

The announcement follows a similar MOU signed with Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) last month wherein the European manufacturer will offer technical expertise and advice. The development includes the construction an airport city dubbed “Eastern Aviation City” over more than 1,000 hectares at a cost of THB200 billion baht (USD5.5 billion) over five years.

Among the facilities set to be built include a second parallel runway, a 320,000 square meter training facility, a 912,000 square meter MRO hangar, a Free Trade Zone (1.52 million square meters), a new passenger terminal (2.24 million square meters), and a new commercial area (1.08 million square metres).