Thailand’s $9 billion aviation project begins construction
- Featured Travel & Hospitality
Schenelle Dsouza- 5 minutes read
Schenelle Dsouza
While countries across the world fight to develop the most prestigious airports, Thailand goes a step further to design an entire aviation city!
Thailand will be transforming its historic U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport into a spectacular aviation city for tourists. The project titled Eastern Aviation City, which is worth US $9 billion, was assigned to the global design and consultancy firm One Works. The construction of this megastructure has reportedly already begun early this year. Post-construction, the project is said to provide as many as 15,600 additional jobs in the first five years, massively boosting Thailand’s aviation industry, shared Thai Government spokeswoman Tipanan Sirichana.
Design and structure
The historical U-Tapao airport, which dates back to the Vietnam War, is located in the Pla subdistrict of the Baanchang district of the Rayong province. The upcoming aviation city will be spread across almost 1,040 hectares (2,570 acres) of land.
Interestingly, the exterior of the new Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) is said to be inspired by the traditional yor (fishing nets) in the nearby coastal towns in the Rayong Province. The interiors will have a more airy ambience with large skylights and plenty of greenery.
The city will feature a new passenger terminal building connected to the new airport to provide an array of full-service carriers that will connect passengers with flights to Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi Airport. Additional amenities include a free trade zone for commodities, a flight training centre and an aircraft maintenance centre.
Amenities
One of the most fascinating aspects of the project is its array of amenities which include a multitude of dining spots echoing the essence of Thai street markets. A centrally-located Smart Eco Hub Retail area and a Culture Village will serve as entertainment for all visitors giving them time to dine, shop, and relax before, during or after a trip.
In a statement released to the press, One Works spoke about the project saying, “In the true sense of Thai hospitality, the PTB has been designed to put the passenger first—creating an inviting environment where the passenger can relax and appreciate Thailand’s people-oriented services and culture as part of their journey.”
