U-Tapao Airport
U-Tapao Airport
U-Tapao International Airport is located in the east of Thailand, 40 kilometers from Pattaya, the distance to Bangkok is 140 kilometers. Every day it receives a dozen flights. The runway is 3.505 kilometers long and 0.6 kilometers wide.
Official name: U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport.
IATA code: UTP. ICAO code: VTBU.
Telephone number of the information service: 038-245595, 038-245600.
Website: www.utapao.com.
History
U-Tapao International Airport was founded in 1964. Initially it served as a military base of the US Air Force. By the way, even now the airport is only partly civilian. The First Wing of the Royal Thai Navy is still based here.
Even before 2015, the airport received only 3-4 airplanes per day. With the participation of AirAsia, new flight destinations began to appear. Now from U-Tapao Airport you can get to almost anywhere in Thailand, and there are also flights to China, PRC.
Passenger Reviews
Infrastructure
U-Tapao Airport Passenger Terminal is a one-story oblong structure with an area of 26100 square meters. It is divided into 2 parts.
- In the departure area for passengers.
There is a restaurant and a Tax Free section where you can get a VAT refund on purchases over 2000 THB. - In the arrival area
you immediately find yourself in a cozy lobby. There are hotel reservation desks and car rental desks, in the travel agency you can buy various excursions. Right behind the counters is the exit from the building and parking lot for 100 cars.
Airlines to U-Tapao Airport
Here is a list of airlines served at Utapao Airport and their flight destinations.
AirAsia
Local destinations:
- Phuket
- Hat Yai
- Ubon Ratchathani
- Udon Thani
- Chiang Mai
International destinations:
- Kuala Lumpur
- Macau
- Hangzhou
- Nanning
Nok Air
- Nanning
- Changsha
- Yichang
- Linyi
- Yinchuan
- Haikou
- Baotou
Bangkok Airways operates flights to Phuket and Samui.
Airport operations are subject to change, please check the website for the latest flight schedules and prices.
Getting to Pattaya
There are no municipal buses in U-Tapao Airport. To get from the airport to Pattaya, you can use the following ways.
Minibuses
Minivans take vacationers to hotels in Pattaya and nearby resorts. Transfer services are provided only by U-Tapao Airport Limousine Company.
- Where to buy. Minibus tickets are sold at a special counter in the airport lobby.
- Operating Schedule. Minivans depart as they fill up. Therefore, try not to linger in the air terminal, so as not to wait for the next flight.
- The cost of transportation to the hotel is 250 THB.
- Travel time can vary from 40 minutes to 2 hours, as all tourists are taken to hotels in the order of turn.
Cab
If you are in a hurry and you have a company of 2-3 people, it will be more convenient to take a cab. You can also buy a ticket in the lobby of the airport terminal. When paying, you are given a ticket with the number of the car. After that, you wait in the parking lot when your car arrives. If there are many people who want to leave, you will have to wait for your turn.
- Cost. You pay approximately 1000 THB for the whole trip.
- Travel time. The cab ride takes 30-50 minutes, depending on the location of your hotel.
Transfer
If you don't have time to wait for a cab, you can book a transfer from U-Tapao International Airport to Pattaya. A driver with a sign will be waiting for you at the exit, will help you carry your suitcases and bring you to the hotel as quickly as possible.
- Where to order. You can order a transfer service on kiwitaxi website.
Rent a car
Right at U-Tapao International Airport airport you can rent a car. It is even more convenient to rent a car online, in this case it will already be waiting for you in the parking lot.
- Where to order. Rental offices are located on the territory of the airport. You can book online at rentalcars.
