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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport

Compiled by

Rayong, Rayong Province (Thailand)
IATA: UTP ICAO: VTBU
Longest Active Runway
11,500 ft
3,505 meters
Field Elevation
42 ft
13 m MSL
Runway Inventory
1 active
Lighted / Paved
Coordinates & Class
12.6799°, 101.0050°
LARGE AIRPORT
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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →
RunwayFacts Published Dataset
tied #260 of 650
In curated primary commercial index
Global Commercial Universe
#430 of 7558
Top 5.7% percentile worldwide
For airports with equal runway length, the worldwide order does not indicate a length difference.
National Standing (Thailand)
#3 of 8 in TH
#3 of 43 in full national registry
vs Large Airport Median
+15%
Compared to 10,000 ft baseline
💡 UTP in numbers: 11,500 ft longest runway · tied #260 of 650 published · #430 of 7,558 worldwide (top 5.7%) · #3 in Thailand.
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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport (UTP)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport bridges military heritage with rapid civil infrastructure scaling. Originally engineered for fully fueled eight-engine SAC strategic bombers, its 11,499 ft runway is among the strongest physical strips in Southeast Asia. Operating right on the Gulf of Thailand at 59 ft elevation, UTP provides exceptional landing safety margins and heavy aircraft maintenance capabilities for Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments
Single primary Runway 18/36 (11,499 ft / 3,505 m) with a parallel second runway under active construction.
Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities
Constructed in 1965 by the United States Air Force as a forward staging base for B-52 Stratofortress bombers during the Vietnam War. Converted to a joint Royal Thai Navy base and commercial airport; currently undergoing a mega-expansion to serve as Bangkok's third commercial international airport.
Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role
Provides a massive alternate landing site for Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK, 62 NM north) and Don Mueang (DMK), connected by a planned high-speed rail corridor.
Data Nuances & Operational Quirks
Runway 18/36's heavy-duty military-grade concrete pavement easily supports the heaviest cargo and widebody commercial charters without weight penalties.
📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Thailand National Civil Aviation Authority · State Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) & ICAO Annex 14 Standards
Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft
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Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

UTP lies at 13 m (42 ft), #526 of 650 published airports by elevation and 17.3 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 44 ft below the Thailand median (86 ft, 8 airports); CEI is highest at 1,280 ft, 1,238 ft higher than UTP.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

2 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Closest of 2 paved-runway (≥5,000 ft) neighbours within 100 NM: Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), 62 NM, 13,123 ft. Next: DMK 77.6 NM. BKK has the radius's longest runway, 1,623 ft more than UTP.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 11,500 ft (3,505 m)

UTP runway: 18/36 11,500 × 197 ft asphalt (asp). National standing: #3 of 8 in Thailand; BKK leads by 1,623 ft (13,123 ft). +15% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator Length (ft / m) Width (ft / m) Surface Material Lighting Status
18/36 11,500 ft (3505 m / 3.505 km) 197 ft (60m) Asphalt (ASP) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name IATA Distance Longest Runway Lighting
Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok) BKK 62 NM (114.8 km) 13,123 ft ✅ Lighted
Don Mueang International Airport (Bangkok) DMK 77.6 NM (143.7 km) 12,139 ft ✅ Lighted

🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →