Thailand has several international airports; Utapao is located in the east of the country - in Rayong province (22 km west of its center). In the registers, this air hub has the following codes: according to IATA - utp, according to ICAO - VTBU.
Contacts
The administration suggests using the airport helpline number 038-245595 to obtain the necessary information about the operation of the hub and flights of interest.
general information
U-Tapao serves not only passenger aircraft - the Thai military air force is also based here. The civil focus is commercial air transportation within the country, international scheduled flights and charter flights between Thailand and other Asian countries. Tourists from Russia and the countries of the former USSR also fly to the famous resort of Pattaya.
The airport is located just 40 km from this resort area and 140 km in a southeast direction from Bangkok. You can see where the main and reserve airports of the country are located on a map of Thailand.
Historical reference
The airport was built in the 60s of the last century and is today a reserve transport hub in Thailand. In 2008, the hub had to briefly take on the role of the country's main airport - at that time Bangkok was under a blockade by the opposition.
The Utapao airport itself is small - the area of the only terminal is 2.5 thousand square meters. m and 1 asphalt runway with a length of 3.5 thousand m. But thanks to the popularization of the resorts of the Gulf of Thailand, the development of this hub is planned in the future. Construction of another passenger terminal and an additional runway is expected, as well as expansion of the airport infrastructure. In 2017, it is planned to serve up to 3 million passengers.
Online flight board
The status of flights and the time of departures or arrivals will be reported on the online display located in a prominent place in the terminal. In this manner Utapao airport presents a schedule that will allow passengers and those greeting/seeing off to better navigate the real situation by studying aircraft departure or arrival data. This is not difficult to do - just know the code of the desired flight.
You can also monitor such information about departures and arrivals on international flights and changes in schedules on the Internet while packing your suitcases at home or at a hotel. The online arrivals and departures board at Utapao Airport can be found at www.utapao.com/inter.
U-Tapao online is not only an opportunity to study flight schedules, departure and arrival times, but also to book a ticket for the desired plane by choosing the appropriate airline for departure from Pattaya. You can also find out the status here the desired aircraft flying to Pattaya.
How to get there
Those arriving in Utapao are interested in how to get from the airport to the nearest resort after arriving in the country. Having looked at the above map, you can understand that the distance between the airport and Pattaya is small. Everyone will decide which type of transport to choose for themselves after studying the information below.
Travel is carried out exclusively on the highway; passengers are offered several types of transport:
- There is a stop near the airport for minibuses that run to Pattaya; The bus covers the distance to the resort in 45 minutes. (including stops), the journey costs 450 rubles, but the whole difficulty lies in the fact that the bus does not depart from the airport according to a schedule, but only when the cabin is full;
- A faster option (in just half an hour) to leave U-Tapao airport is by taxi, which is on duty at the terminal (at the exit from the arrivals area), but such a trip to Pattaya costs more than by bus - 1,799 rubles. behind a car for 3 people and 2699 rub. – for a minivan;
- It is proposed to rent a car at the airport, which will cost 1053 rubles per day, but will help you quickly cover the distance to Pattaya.
There is also a transfer option, but this type of transport is provided by travel agencies and hotels where the room is booked. For this reason, the cost of the order will vary (from 500 rubles), but maximum convenience is provided.
After studying the map below, you can go from the airport to other resorts in the Gulf of Thailand, using the transfer service for traveling around Thailand or renting a car at the airport.
Parking
In front of the entrance to the airport there is a free parking lot with 100 spaces for those who decide to travel to Utapao by personal vehicle.
Airport map
There is a map on the information stand in the terminal indicating all the zones. The airport layout is quite concise and makes it easy to navigate the place. Therefore, it will not be difficult for those meeting you to find the area where the flight is expected to arrive, and those departing will easily understand where the plane will take off from.
Services
Although Utapao Airport in Pattaya has recently become quite popular among tourists, the infrastructure of the hub is kept to a minimum - waiting rooms in the arrivals and departures areas, a small cafe and a cozy restaurant, souvenir and jewelry shops, a currency exchange office and medical care.
There is a post office at the airport, and there is also a representative office of a travel agency, through which you can book a cozy hotel or order a transfer from the airport (or from the city to the hub when the plane arrives).
WiFi
There is free wireless throughout the entire airport. wi-fi network. To use it with maximum comfort, you can visit the Internet cafe operating in the terminal.
Hotels near the airport
There are no hotels in the arrivals transit area - You will have to get to the nearest ones by transport (you can order a transfer):
- 3 km from the hub there is a 3-star hotel Green Apple Villa;
- 6 km from Utapao located Guest house Kanta Gardens and several hotels with different levels comfort.
Note! Towards the resort there are other economy class hotels, suites, 3-5 star hotels. Each of them has a well-developed infrastructure that allows you to relax in comfort.
To better navigate the area, it is recommended to study maps of Pattaya in advance, one of which is given below.
Which airlines fly
The main passenger flow in this transport hub comes from internal travel around the country. These flights are operated by Bangkok Airways and Thai AirAsia (which also operates international flights).
- Regular flights of international importance involve the Cambodian Tonlesap Airlines and the Russian S7 Airlines (flying from Irkutsk and Novosibirsk);
- The remaining routes operated at this airport are charter, They are carried out in Thailand by the following airlines:
- Chinese “China Southern Airlines” and “China Airlines”, Hong Kong “Dragonair”, Korean “Korean Air”, Japanese “Japan Airlines”;
- from Russian companies the airport is used by Ikar Airlines (flights from St. Petersburg, Kemerovo, Bratsk), Royal Flight (from Kazan), Nordwind Airlines (launching at the airports of Novosibirsk, Khabarovsk, Irkutsk, Ufa, Perm, Kemerovo);
- SCAT Airlines planes fly from Kazakhstan to Thailand.
Despite small sizes of this transport hub providing air communications, its secondary nature and not fully developed infrastructure, Pattaya Airport (as Utapao is increasingly called) is becoming more popular every year due to the democratic nature of the resorts of the Gulf of Thailand.
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Pattaya Airport – one of the most popular resorts in Thailand. Every year Pattaya receives thousands of tourists from all over the world. Pattaya is a picturesque place where it is pleasant to relax and there is something to see. Its popularity among the Russian-speaking population is due to decent living conditions, high-quality service and relatively low cost, even in . Pattaya offers the best of a resort holiday and is suitable for both a trip with friends and a holiday with family. You can get to Pattaya either by public transport from other cities in Thailand or by flights to the airport located nearby.
U-Tapao or U-Tapao International Airport is the international airport located closest to Pattaya under the UTP nomenclature. This is a small airport 40 minutes from Pattaya in the southern part of the resort. The distance from the capital of Thailand is 140 kilometers. U-Tapao serves international and regional flights and was a major military base during the Vietnam War.
U-Tapao Airport has maintained its importance since its military past during the American War. U-Tapao is located in the waterfront area Sattahip and serves approximately 400 people daily. Despite its small size, the passenger terminal has an area of 2.5 thousand square meters. There are important centers on the territory of U-Tapao Maintenance world famous international companies. U-Tapao Airport specializes in receiving charter flights. The runway is 60 m wide and 3.5 km long.
The bulk of passenger turnover consists of domestic flights. U-Tapao can be used as a backup air gate. The airport serves not only Pattaya. But . U-Tapao receives international, domestic and military aircraft and serves the Royal Thai Air Force. You can get to the airport by charter flight or transit through the capital of Thailand.
Book cheap flights
Features of U-Tapao Airport in Pattaya
Pattaya Airport (U-Tapao) was built in the 1960s and had the status of a military base. It was built by the US military to conduct air attacks during the Vietnam War. U-Tapao lost its status as a full-fledged military airport and now accepts civil flights. In 2008, when Bangkok's air gates were blocked, the country's authorities sent international flights to U-Tapao and within 2 weeks the airport became the main airport in the country.
After the restoration of access to Bangkok Airport, U-Tapao retained the right to accept civil flights. At the moment, the airport cooperates with many airlines, including:
- Bangkok Airlines ,
- "Solar Air" ,
- Tonle Sap Airlines ,
- "China Airlines" ,
- "China Southern Airlines" ,
- "Jepan Airlines" ,
- "Northwind Airlines" .
Domestic flights and international charter flights operate from U-Tapao. The importance of the airport lies in the maintenance that is provided to the aircraft of different airlines. All aircraft models are diagnosed and repaired here. Due to high-quality technical services, the country's authorities intend to expand the area of U-Tapao, thereby increasing the flow of tourists.
Photos of U-Tapao Airport in Pattaya
Map of U-Tapao Airport in Pattaya
Despite the rapid flow of passengers, Pattaya Airport looks very small on the map. Its capacity does not exceed 400 people. U-Tapao's small area does not prevent it from being one of the most popular airports in Thailand. U-Tapao receives and dispatches passenger aircraft. There is everything you need for a comfortable stay.
Pattaya Airport on small area holds:
- 2 departure lanes,
- 1 arrival lane,
- Departure lounge,
- Arrival Hall,
- Medical aid station,
- Luggage compartment,
- Reception desks,
- Airport collection point,
- Restaurant,
- 2 double-u-si,
- 2 exits.
Tourists flying to U-Tapao for the first time can purchase an airport map so as not to get lost. In general, the airport infrastructure is convenient. The airport has 100 parking spaces, Duty Dree stores, food outlets, Internet access areas, and souvenir shops. There are travel agency services on the territory of U-Tapao, where you can rent a place in a hotel or call a taxi. The airport was designed as a military airport, so its capacity is slightly limited. There are queues of visitors at the check-in counters and there is a palpable atmosphere of rush. But flying through U-Tapao is budget option, compared to a plane ticket to Bangkok.
How to get to Pattaya Airport?
There are many ways to get to U-Tapao Airport:
- Taxi, tuk-tuk, motorbike .
- Songthaew minibuses .
- Minibuses.
Pattaya Airport (U-Tapao) - online scoreboard
Pattaya Airport: taxi, bus or car rental?
The easiest way to get to U-Tapao is a pre-booked transfer, which is considered a very profitable way to travel. Only 9 $ The booked transport will pick you up from the airport and deliver you anywhere in the city. The transfer may be included in the price of the flight when purchasing a tour from a tour operator, or it can be purchased upon arrival in U-Tapao. Travel by minivan will cost 250 baht.
Departure times depend on aircraft arrival schedules, as buses depart when they are full of passengers. By minivan you can get anywhere in Pattaya. If you take a taxi, you can get from the airport to Pattaya in 40 minutes. The cost of the trip is from 850 baht. Renting a taxi, which is located in the airport parking lot, will cost 1000 baht, so it will be cheaper to order a taxi from services car rental .
On the territory of U-Tapao there are duty-free shops, souvenir and jewelry shops, cafes and car rental points. Hotels near the airport offer comfortable rooms and quality service. For tourists, there are online information services and a board (arrival and departure schedule) at the airport. Additional information You can find out about services and flights at U-Tapao Airport on the official website.
We continue to talk about airports in Thailand. We have already looked at . We discussed taxis at Phuket airport, and today we will tell you about Pattaya airport. This airport is suitable for those who do not want to fly to either Bangkok or Phuket, but want to fly directly to Pattaya.
Pattaya is the most popular beach resort in Thailand. There is no airport in the city itself, as is the case in other cities of the country. Pattaya Airport is approximately 45 minutes drive from the city.
There is no exact translation of the name of the airport into Russian; most people call it U-Tapao, American tourists prefer to call the airport Yutapao, and the rarest, but also common version of the name of the airport in Pattaya is U-Tapao. Official name of the airport U-Tapao International Airport, and in international nomenclature it is called UTP. We will call the airport U-Tapao, which is as close as possible to the original sound in a foreign language.
The airport serves both the city of Pattaya itself and the resorts around it, such as Rayong. The airport is simultaneously international, domestic, and military. Despite its small size, the airport serves flights from the Royal Air Force Tailnad. But it also accepts tourists. Buying a direct flight from Moscow to U-Tapao is difficult, unless you are lucky with a charter. But a flight with a transfer in Bangkok is easy to find.
At the airport in Pattaya there is an aircraft maintenance center for the largest Thai airline, Thai Airways. In addition, it is in Pattaya that aircraft of other airlines are repaired and inspected. So the airport is alive, quite busy, and developing. The government has plans to expand the airport to accommodate growing demand for arrivals and departures.
Pattaya Airport Map
If you want to avoid getting lost at the airport and know which way to go immediately after arrival, then save this map of Pattaya Airport for yourself. Better yet, print it out and take it with you on your travels. It will be useful to you both when you arrive and when you fly away.
History of U-Tapao Airport
Connected to U-Tapao Airport interesting story. In 2008, when the opposition in Thailand blocked Bangkok Airport, considered the country's main air gateway, the government redirected all international flights to U-Tapao, and during the period from November 27 to December 5, Pattaya Airport became the country's main airport, which received almost all foreign flights.
Photos: from the official website of Pattaya Airport
Pattaya is one of the most popular seaside resorts in the Kingdom of Thailand. And there are many explanations for this. The first is proximity to the capital. There is no need to think about how to get to the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Phuket, or spend a long time on a train to reach the extreme south of the country. The second reason for the popularity of the resort is its controversial reputation as the center of the sex industry. This is mainly a hangout place for young people. But the resort (especially the respectable hotels on its outskirts) also offers a completely quiet family holiday. Pattaya is as diverse as Asia itself! What airport is there in this city? Is it possible to get to Pattaya directly from Russia, bypassing Bangkok? How to get to the city from the airport? And if you have already flown to Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok), then how can you quickly and cheaply get to Pattaya? Read about all this in our article.
Utapao
This is the name of Pattaya Airport. It should be said that this hub was not built for the needs of civil aviation. In the seventies of the last century, it was an air base for American pilots when they launched attacks on North Vietnam. After the end of hostilities, Utapao became a third-rate airport. It was used by the military as well as commercial organizations to deliver goods. And, probably, it would have continued like this, because its proximity to Bangkok did not give Pattaya any chance of tourists flying here from various countries peace. But the revolution at the end of November 2008 unexpectedly helped. During the unrest, oppositionists captured and blocked the capital's Suvarnabhumi Airport. Utapao was temporarily deployed to receive flights and send passengers home.
The airport's finest hour
At this difficult time for the tourism industry of Thailand (after all, the revolution broke out at the very peak of the season), the Pattaya air harbor has proven itself to be a hub that is quite capable of coping with the situation. All services at the small Pattaya airport worked with precision swiss watches. Moreover, it was easy to transport passengers from Suvarnabhumi to Utapao. After all, Pattaya is located just one hundred and forty kilometers from Bangkok - that’s two hours by bus. After the events of 2008, Utapao's status increased. Now the hub wears official name U-Tapao International Airport. In this regard, the government seriously decided to expand the infrastructure of the small military airfield. At the end of 2014, construction of a new passenger terminal began. Its area is more than two and a half thousand square meters. The hub's passenger turnover is three million people annually.
Airport board
Utapao mainly serves domestic flights. Airplanes from Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Phuket, Hua Hin, Hat Yai, and Udon Thani land here. But there are also regular flights to neighboring countries. From Pattaya Airport you can fly to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Siem Real, Nanchang and Nanning. The airport becomes especially busy during the tourist season. Numerous charters are added to regular flights. This low-cost hub was highly appreciated by Chinese airlines (Shanghai, Guangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung), Japanese (Tokyo, Osaka), Korean (Seoul, Busan) and Hong Kong carriers. Charter flights from Russia to Utapao are operated by S7 (from Irkutsk and Novosibirsk), Icarus Airlines (from St. Petersburg, Kemerovo and Bratsk), Royal Flight (from Kazan) and Nordwind Airlines (from Khabarovsk, Perm, Ufa, Novosibirsk, Kemerovo and Irkutsk). You can also fly directly to Pattaya by charter from Kazakhstan - from Astana and Almaty.
Services at the airport
The state plans to turn Utapao into the main air gateway to the country's east coast. Until recently, few people had heard of such resorts as Trat, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Koh Chang and Samet. However, now they are actively developing. The government decided to make Pattaya Airport the main one for tourists traveling in this direction in order to relieve the capital Suvarnabhumi. To this end, the infrastructure of the former military airfield is developing every year. Now there you can find a small duty-free shop, a souvenir kiosk, a jewelry store, a restaurant, a post office, a luggage room, a currency exchange office, various tourist information, car rental and hotel reservation offices. You can get a VAT refund on purchases of at least two thousand baht at the VAT Refund for Tourists counter. It is located behind passport control, in the departures hall. It should be remembered that Utapao remains a joint airport. Since military aircraft are stationed there, security at the hub is especially picky.
How to get to Pattaya from the airport
The air force base was built specifically further from the city. The airfield is located directly on the shore of the Gulf of Thailand and has the cleanest Sattahip beach. It is called military, but its proximity to the air base does not make the coast strictly closed. Those who have been there leave rave reviews about the purity of the water and the whiteness of the sand. True, there is no tourist infrastructure there as such. Sattahip remains a beach for lovers wildlife. If you cross the checkpoint, you can get to the turtle nursery. Some avid nature lovers prefer Sattahip to be crowded and not too clean beaches Pattaya. The distance to the airport from the city is forty kilometers. But a minibus runs regularly from the center of Pattaya to Upatao. Its stop is at the exit from the airport terminal. The fare is 250 baht (just under 450 rubles at the exchange rate at the end of July 2017) per person. You can also take a taxi for a quick ride. Their parking lot is also located in front of the entrance. Passenger car will cost 1,000 baht (1,770 rubles), a minivan for six passengers - 1,500 (2,655).
Information for transit passengers
Utapao is very cheap to maintain. Therefore, it is chosen by low-cost carrier companies. And it often happens that tourists traveling around Southeast Asia and the world choose Thailand as a transit point. What if the plane arrived at Utapao and the connecting flight departs from Suvarnabhumi? How to get from Pattaya to Bangkok airport on your own? To do this, you must first get to the resort's main bus station. It is located on the southern outskirts of Pattaya. Buses depart from there according to schedule. The car will have to travel 120 kilometers. That is, Suvarnabhumi is closer to Pattaya than Bangkok itself. But the ticket is quite expensive, since the bus follows a toll highway. Travel time is one and a half hours. The bus is easy to recognize by the airplane painted on board.
How to get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya
But most tourists continue to arrive in the country through the capital's Suvarnabhumi hub. Typically travelers stay two to three days in Bangkok. This gives them the opportunity to acclimatize and see the sights of the capital. And then the tourists leave for seaside resorts. For those who arrived in Thailand on package tours, a transfer is provided. How can independent tourists get from the capital to Pattaya? Regular public and private buses, as well as commercial minivans, depart from all three bus stations in Bangkok to the resort. Tickets can be purchased both at the station at the ticket office and at the travel agency. Buses run from early morning until late evening. Travel time is two and a half hours. The interval between flights is 25-40 minutes. A train runs from Bangkok to Pattaya several times a day.
Address: Phla, Ban Chang, Rayong 21130
Official name: U-TAPAO
IATA code: UTP
ICAO code: VTBU
Official website: utapao.com
Utapao Airport began its activities in the 60s of the last century. Initially, it served as a gas station and also served as a base for American soldiers during the war with neighboring Vietnam. Over time, the base was reconstructed and converted into a domestic airport, which later received international status. Today, the air complex has at its disposal the longest runway in all of Thailand, 3.5 kilometers long. Such characteristics make it possible to accept aircraft all categories, including Airbus A380.
U-Tapao Airport location map:
The airport has a single passenger terminal. It serves passengers on both domestic and international flights. The terminal infrastructure is very well developed, and it’s not difficult to navigate either, since there are signs in English around the entire perimeter. 
For the convenience of passengers, there is an information desk, food outlets, various shops (including souvenir shops), there is a Duty Free zone, a post office, ATMs, and a counter for ordering a taxi.
The terminal can simultaneously accommodate up to 400 people. All flight information is provided by electronic displays located in the main hall.
The departure area occupies most of the terminal and is located on the left side. Before going to the check-in counters, you must go through a baggage inspection. This standard procedure applies to all airports in Thailand.
There is also a Tax Free window in the departure area. It allows you to return VAT on goods purchased in Thailand. Their cost must exceed 2,000 baht and a correctly completed receipt is required.
Arriving passengers are served on the right side of the terminal. There is also a travel agency here that offers services for booking hotels or ordering excursions of any subject. In front of the building there is a parking lot for 100 spaces.
Please note that there is no Wi-Fi zone at the airport. If desired, passengers can visit an Internet cafe and use a desktop computer.
Online scoreboard of U-tapao airport:
Most of the flights served by Utapao are domestic. Main directions:
- Hat Yai;
- Samui:
- Udon Thani;
- Phuket;
- Chiang Mai.
Depending on the direction, flights can be operated either daily or just a few times a week. Utapao Airport operates with the following airlines:
- Bangkok Airways;
- Kanair Lines;
- Thai AirAsia.
Almost all international flights are operated by Thai Air Asia. It sends its planes to the southern cities of China, Malaysia, Singapore and Macau.
During the high season, the airport accepts some charters from Russian cities. Data for 2016 indicate that air communication with Moscow, Belgorod, Irkutsk, Samara and Ufa was established. Such flights were operated by:
- UTair Aviation;
- Nordwind Airlines;
- Ikar Airlines.
You can search for flights from Russia to U-Tapao airport:
How to get from the airport to Pattaya
Utapao Airport is no more than 30 kilometers away from Pattaya. Despite the fact that there is no public transport here, there should be no problems getting to the desired hotel and back. There are several most popular moving options, each of which has its own characteristics and disadvantages.
Bus (minivans)
This is perhaps one of the most simple ways trips. At the exit, many smiling Thais appear in front of passengers, offering their transport services. The cost of the trip to the hotel is 250 baht (small changes are possible). 
The only drawback of such transport is that you have to wait until the minivan is completely filled. And this can take 10 minutes or an hour. Minibuses (as they are also called) deliver tourists to hotels. It is worth considering that the trip may take a little longer, since no one guarantees that your hotel will be among the first.
Minivans are great for those traveling alone or as a couple. This good way save on travel. Arriving big family, you can always rent a car in full and not wait until it is full.
Taxi from U-Tapao Airport to Pattaya
The most comfortable and fastest travel option is, of course, ordering a taxi. Firstly, the car will be waiting for you when the plane arrives, and secondly, you won’t have to waste time waiting for the minivan to fill up. Plus, this significantly saves time on the road, since from the airport you will go straight to your hotel. 
It is convenient and profitable to order a taxi via the Internet. Recently, Kiwitaxi has become increasingly popular. By placing an order on the website, you can be sure that you will be met and taken to the appointed place. Finding the driver at the exit will not be difficult, as he will be waiting for you with a sign in his hands with your name on it. Kiwitaxi offers different services and cars. For those traveling with a child, a car seat can be provided. The cost of the trip depends on the distance of the hotel, but, as a rule, varies within 1000 baht.
Also approximate prices from U-tapao airport:
- to Rayong from RUR 2,579
- in Ban Phe Pier from 3,070 rub.
- in Ban Phe from 2,702 rub.
- in Laima-Ngopa Pier Trata from 7,183 rub.
- to Hua Hin from RUR 9,086
- to Bangkok from RUR 4,912
- to Suvarnabhumi Airport from RUR 4,421
In order to travel in the opposite direction, that is, from the hotel to the airport, you can use the same methods, as well as a transfer. You can always order a minivan at any travel agency, which is located on all Pattaya beaches.
