Due to the impact of the pandemic, U-Tapao International Aviation Company Ltd (UTA) has revealed that the first phase of the new U-Tapao-Rayong-Pattaya International Airport expansion could be delayed for up to two years.
Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, president of Bangkok Airways and a representative of UTA, stated that the first phase of the airport’s expansion could be completed in 2026, as the company will have to adjust its construction schedule due to the pandemic’s impact on passenger growth. He added that the initial four phases of the project could also be expanded to six.
The first phase of the renovation was anticipated to be completed in 2024, with a passenger capacity of 15.9 million per year, a 157,000-square-meter terminal, 60 aircraft parking lots, commercial space, and a ground transportation hub.
Under a 50-year concession, the redesigned U-tapao airport is a joint venture between the BBS consortium, which includes Bangkok Airways, and the government’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee.
The project intends to accommodate more than sixty million passengers annually.
Puttipong stated that the company is still awaiting the resolution of several issues, including approval of the environmental impact assessment, construction of the second runway, and a contract for a high-speed train.
Puttipong, however, affirmed that the outcome of the EEC’s search for a new secretary would not affect the project’s construction, as he believes the EEC will continue as planned. (NNT)
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