Thailand: Terminal opening in Pattaya airport

U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport has officially opened Terminal 2. The airport is located on a 6,500 rai plot of land in tambon Phala in Rayong's Ban Chang district. Opened for commercial flights in 1989, the airport has one runway (3.5km long and 60m wide) and can support 700,000 passengers a year. However, the airport handled almost 2m passengers last year, with about 15,000 flights connecting to more than 30 destinations in Thailand and abroad. The government invested about 600m baht for the new terminal. With 30,000m² of space, the new facility will be able to handle 3m passengers a year. The government invested about 600m baht for the new terminal. With 30,000m² of space, the new facility will be able to handle 3m passengers a year. The government also plans to add new facilities including a third passenger terminal, a 675 rai commercial area, a new runway, a 200 rai training centre and a free-trade zone. The airport expansion is part of the government's plan to promote the Kingdom as a regional aviation hub. It will link to the Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang international airports by high-speed train in the future.<br/>