U-Tapao airport opens round the clock to receive diverted flights
The navy is keeping the airport available until Sunday (October 4, 2026) for flights unable to land at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang because of adverse weather.
- U-Tapao International Airport will operate 24/7 to serve as an alternate destination for flights diverted from Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.
- The change is a response to heavy rain and poor visibility affecting air traffic at Bangkok's main airports, creating a need for diversions.
- This temporary round-the-clock operation is in effect for one week, from September 28 to October 4, 2026, at the request of Thailand's Civil Aviation Authority.
ACM Manat Chavanaprayoon, director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), said heavy, persistent rain over the weekend had affected visibility and air traffic management, particularly around Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang International Airport.
Some flights had been delayed, while diversions to alternate airports might also be necessary for safety.
With unsettled weather potentially continuing this week, CAAT has asked the Royal Thai Navy to keep U-Tapao International Airport open around the clock as an alternate airport for flights unable to land at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang because of the weather.
The request is intended to improve preparedness and provide more options for managing flights.
U-Tapao has scheduled closures during parts of the night while its second runway is being built.
However, persistent rain has temporarily slowed construction during those periods.
CAAT therefore held talks with the navy about using those periods to improve the airport’s readiness for emergencies affecting flight operations.
The navy is keeping U-Tapao open around the clock from Monday (September 28, 2026) until Sunday (October 4, 2026) to accommodate flights that need to divert from the main airports because of adverse weather.
U-Tapao’s increased availability will give airlines more options when selecting alternate airports for flights unable to land at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang as planned because of poor weather.
Allowing flights to divert to an airport within a suitable distance will provide greater flexibility in flight management and reduce the impact on the air traffic system as a whole.
CAAT will closely monitor weather conditions and flight operations, coordinating with the navy, air navigation service providers, airport operators and airlines to ensure preparedness and a coordinated response across the system, with flight safety the priority.
It will also use operational data from this period to assess and plan air traffic management so that it can respond effectively to situations that may arise in the future.
