RAYONG, THAILAND – The Royal Thai Navy has begun construction of a second runway at U-Tapao International Airport, launching a multibillion-baht drive to create a new Asian aviation hub.
Symbolic launch of second runway
On 29 November, Admiral Phairoj Fueangchan, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy, pressed a symbolic start button in Ban Chang district, Rayong, marking the official start of work. Provincial officials and Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) representatives attended the ceremony.
“This is a historic moment for Thailand’s aviation,”
said Admiral Phairoj Fueangchan, navy commander-in-chief.
Multibillion-baht upgrade for U-Tapao
The project, valued at 16.2 billion baht (about 405 million euros), was set to transform U-Tapao into an international aviation centre. A new runway and taxiway formed the core of the planned Eastern Aviation City development.
The scheme was part of the broader EEC programme, aimed at expanding infrastructure and investment in eastern Thailand. The cabinet had already approved the airport plan in 2018, with an initial budget of 17.768 billion baht.
Funding shift underscores priority
In 2022, authorities converted the financing model to a credit-based structure.
“This shows the high priority of this project,”
said an EEC representative.
The change in funding was presented as a sign of the government’s commitment to completing the expansion.
Regional race for aviation dominance
Thailand was competing with Singapore and Malaysia for leadership in Asian air transport. U-Tapao was intended to become the most important aviation node in the region, boosting both passenger and cargo volumes.
New investors from around the world had already expressed interest in the site.
“This will massively strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness,”
said an economic expert.
Construction phase and expected impact
With the first pile driven, the intensive construction phase began under the Thai conglomerate Italian-Thai Development (ITD), which was contracted to carry out the work. Coordination between state agencies and the contractor was reported to be running at full speed.
The new runway was expected to double flight movements at the airport and serve as a key gateway for Southeast Asia.
“U-Tapao will become the gateway to Southeast Asia,”
industry observers predicted, describing the project as the start of a new era for Thailand’s economy.
Open questions on who benefits
The expansion raised questions over who would gain most from the investment: national business interests, the surrounding region, or international investors. While officials framed U-Tapao as Thailand’s future gateway to the world, the long-term balance of economic benefits remained unclear.