U-Tapao Airport: construction is under way since 3 April, second runway due by May 2028

U-Tapao Airport, about 45 minutes by road from Pattaya, has been under construction since 3 April 2026. The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the naval aviation base in Rayong province after more than five years of delays.

Key points

• The "U-Tapao Airport and Eastern Aviation City" project is valued at roughly 300 billion baht. The contract was signed in 2020.
• The operator is U-Tapao International Aviation (UTA). On 29 January 2026 the Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) and UTA signed a contract management agreement.
• Phase one is designed for 3-4 million passengers a year, with an investment of about 10 billion baht.
• The second runway and taxiways, which the navy is building, are due by May 2028.
• The commercial zone (hotels, shopping centres, housing) is due to start construction in late 2026.
• The long-term goal is 60 million passengers a year; later phases will be launched when utilisation reaches about 80%.
• The new passenger terminal is expected to open around 2031.

The railway is a separate matter

The Don Mueang - Suvarnabhumi - U-Tapao high-speed line has not yet been approved. The operator has dropped the contract conditions tied to the railway, so the airport is being built independently of it.

What this means for the property market

Closest to the airport are Na Jomtien, Jomtien and south Pattaya. The effect of the airport will build up as the phases come into operation. More on other projects in the region: what is planned in Pattaya through 2031 and new-build projects in Pattaya.

*Sources: Nation Thailand, EECO.*