Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome said stalled expansion of U-Tapao Pattaya International Airport may “soon” move forward as officials finally agreed its budget.
Plans to transform U-Tapao into a modern aviation facility were put on hold last year when the Royal Thai Navy, which operates the airport, refused to approve construction of a new passenger terminal. The 600 million baht earmarked for a 25,200 sq. meter terminal was used instead for flood relief and rebuilding in the north.
The government announced a 995 million baht expansion plan in May 2009 with a terminal capable of handling 1,500 passengers per hour, new parking facilities, fuel depot, fire-fighting systems, x-ray machines and improvements to other equipment and landscaping.
Officials meet to discuss the proposed new redevelopment budget for U-Tapao Airport.
Itthiphol said the expansion has been scaled down to 800 million baht.
The plan became necessary after yellow-shirted anti-government protestors shut down Bangkok’s two international airports in 2008. Pressed into service as the country’s main gateway, U-Tapao was over-run with stranded travelers, causing horrific delays and critical damage to the country’s image.
The Navy approved the redevelopment and name change in September 2009. At the same time, it asked Pattaya officials to pay for new signs, landscape improvements and a railroad station that would connect Pattaya with the airport about a 45-minute drive outside the city.
The mayor pledged that the expanded facility would be operational in September 2012.
