Yes there is an airport in Pattaya called Pattaya Utapao Airport and it’s Thailand’s first purpose-built airport and one of the country’s newest facilities. It opened in 2011 and services as many as 50 domestic airlines in addition to dozens of general aviation planes each month.
The airport is also home to Skytrain, an automated people mover that links all terminals together. If you’re planning a trip to Thailand in the near future, keep reading for a complete guide to Pattaya Utapao Airport and other facts about your destination.
Pattaya Utapao Airport is officially registered as Krung Thai Ru Airport but in reality, most people just call it Pattaya Airport so that’s what we’ll call it for the rest of this guide.
How To Get To Pattaya Utapao Airport
Luckily, getting to Pattaya Utapao Airport is easy as the airport is located around 100 kilometres south of Bangkok. The drive between the two cities takes around 1 hour 30 minutes by car and a little longer by bus.
There are several ways to get to Pattaya Utapao Airport including driving, taking a bus, train, flying or by taxi but if you’re coming from Bangkok, driving is by far the quickest.
Shops At Pattaya Utapao Airport
There are several shops and restaurants located inside the terminals including 7-Eleven, LIDL and Wal-Mart as well as a few individual shops that are open inside the building. There are also several restaurants located throughout the airport, including a Starbucks, Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts and an Italian restaurant.
You can also find a few shops and boutiques that are open 24/7 including a Baskin-Robins and an All Slots Casino.
Airlines That Fly From Pattaya Utapao Airport
Thai Lion Air flies from Pattaya Utapao to Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.
Thai AirAsia flies from Pattaya Utapao to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
Nok Air flies from Pattaya Utapao to Hanoi.
Air Asia X flies from Pattaya Utapao to Singapore.
Nok Scoot flies from Pattaya Utapao to Ho Chi Minh City.
Pattaya Utapao Airport Facts
The airport’s official name is Krung Thai Ru Airport.
There are at least six terminals at Pattaya Utapao Airport.
The parking lot of Pattaya Utapao Airport can hold around 1,900 vehicles.
The people mover between the terminals can take as little as 15 minutes or as long as 50 minutes.
Final Words: Should You Visit Pattaya Utapao Airport?
Pattaya Utapao Airport is a good option if you’re travelling from Bangkok to the southern coast. The airport is relatively new, and it’s still not fully operational. The people mover between the terminals can take a while to use, and it’s not very convenient to get between the terminals.
One way to bypass this problem is to use a taxi, which is much faster. If you do decide to stop at Pattaya Utapao Airport, make sure you do plenty of research before visiting. Get to know your destination by reading our city guides and visiting websites like One Day in Bangkok. This will help you get the most out of your trip.