Thai Airways International has approved plans to invest more than THB13 billion in a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at U-Tapao Airport in Rayong, marking a major step in developing Thailand into a regional aviation maintenance hub. The project will be built on a 33.6-hectare site leased from the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) under a 50-year agreement and developed as a modern “smart hangar.”
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027 and conclude in 2030, aligning with the development of U-Tapao’s second runway and the broader aviation city concept within the EEC. Once completed, the facility aims to become a world-class aircraft maintenance center, helping reduce Thailand’s reliance on overseas MRO services.
Under the agreement, Thai Airways will be responsible for core infrastructure and will share revenue with the state, starting from year five. Part of the site will be allocated to Bangkok Airways, which plans to invest around THB2 billion in a narrow-body aircraft maintenance hangar.
The project is expected to start operations as early as next year and gradually expand to serve other airlines, addressing a critical shortage of domestic aircraft maintenance capacity and supporting long-term growth of Thailand’s aviation and aerospace industry.
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