U-tapao budgets Bt1 billion to meet ICAO guidelines before inspection
THE U-TAPAO Rayong Pattaya International Airport, better known as the U-tapao Airport plans an extra budget of Bt1 billion to improve aviation safety and facilities to meet the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which is
Rear Admiral Worapol Tongpricha, the airport’s director, said additional expansion plans were set for this year and next year. The airport will spend Bt600 million this year and the balance Bt400 million next year.
“The new investment will improve the aviation communication system, navigation aids system, runway and taxi way as well as other facilities in the airport,” he said. The airport also aimed to improve the airport’s safety and security in order to meet international aviation standards, particularly ICAO’s standard.
‘Logistics hub’
“To make the airport an international logistics hub, we are forwarding our future investment plans and progress of our current plans to the Department of Civil Aviation for initial auditing. The ICAO, meanwhile, is scheduled to visit the airport within the second quarter of 2017 to oversee the overall operation,” he said.
The government earlier granted a budget of Bt800 million to build a new passenger terminal at U-tapao Airport in order to meet aviation demand and increasing tourism to the east coast of Thailand. The construction of the new terminal is underway and is scheduled to open in August this year.
The airport currently accommodates 4,000 passengers per day or a maximum capacity of 800,000 passengers per year. Once the terminal is completed, it should serve up to 3 million passengers per year. Meanwhile, the airline will able to increase flight capacity to 60,000 per year.
According to Worapol, eight airlines are operating to U-Tapao Airport. They include six scheduled airlines – Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, AirAsia (Malaysia), R Airlines, Kan Air and China Southern – with a combined 12 flights per day and carrying 4,000 passengers per day. There are also 2 charter airliners – Ika and North Wing – from Russia.
“Some airlines from the Middle East and elsewhere are interested in operating flights to the airport to serve tourists,” Worapol added. It is reported that Emirates and Lion Air will soon finalise their operation plans.
The number of passengers disembarking at U-tapao Airport has been surging from 140,000 in 2015 to 150,000 in only the first three months this year. The number is expected to jump during the Songkran Festival set from Wednesday to Friday this week.
This year, the airport will begin to invite investors to bid for duty-free shops following the opening of a new terminal. He said that at least four groups – South Korea’s Lotte, King Power Group, Central, and Paragon/The Mall – have expressed interest to run duty-free shops. The airport is also set to be the base for a maintenance centre, training centre, and private jet service in the long term.
U-tapao Airport earned income of Bt30 million from service and management last year. Revenue is expected to increase to Bt120 million this year.
Last week, the Ministry of Finance announced it would offer more incentives to boost foreign and local investment on the Eastern coast, including at U-tapao Airport. Although the government has been pushing many mega-projects over the past few months, government investment in the region accounts for only 10 per cent of all the investment. Hence it will seek new investment particularly from the private sector in provinces along the Eastern coast, which is the country’s largest economic zone.
