Thai Airways International (TG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) management is seeking board of directors' approval for a THB13 billion Thai baht (USD418.4 million) investment in a new MRO facility at Utapao.

According to local media reports, the project, which was presented to the board on January 19, involves a 50-year lease of 210 rai (33.6 hectare) property from the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) office. If approved, the airline expects to sign the lease agreement in late January or early February 2027. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2027, with the so-called smart hangar facility targeting a 2030 opening. The site is located adjacent to the airport's second runway, which has been under construction since December 2025.

The proposed agreement includes a revenue-sharing model with the government commencing in the fifth year of operations. The carrier will pay 3% of revenue from years five through ten, 5% from years ten through 15, and 7% from the fifteenth year onwards.

The development plan also stipulates a sublease to Bangkok Airways (PG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi), which intends to develop a maintenance hangar for narrowbody aircraft on 30 rai (4.8 hectares) of the site. Bangkok Airways will invest approximately THB2 billion (USD64.3 million) in the facility capable of accommodating two aircraft. The carrier is expected to begin its part of the project in 2027.

The new maintenance hub aims to address a shortage of domestic technical capacity that currently forces Thai carriers to send aircraft abroad for heavy maintenance. MRO providers in the country include Asian Aerospace Services, Thai Aviation Industries, and Thai Maintenance, according to ch-aviation data.