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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Ubon Ratchathani Airport

Ubon Ratchathani Airport (IATA: UBP, ICAO: VTUU) is in Nai Mueang subdistrict, Mueang Ubon Ratchathani district, Ubon Ratchathani province in northeastern Thailand. It currently serves as both a commercial airport and as a Royal Thai Air Force base.

History

The airport was first opened in 1921, when the nearby Warin Chamrap district was affected by smallpox and cholera epidemic. The authorities have sent doctors and medical supplies by plane to Ubon Ratchathani province to alleviate the suffering of the residents.

In 1955 it became Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base for the Vietnam War; in 1975 the facility became an international civilian airport, with direct flights to Vietnam. These flights proved unprofitable, and while the international signage is still in place, only domestic flights have operated for a number of years.

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Nok Air Bangkok–Don Mueang
Thai AirAsia Bangkok–Don Mueang
Thai Airways International Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi
Thai Lion Air Bangkok–Don Mueang
Thai VietJet Air Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi
Nok Air at Ubon Ratchathani Airport
Thai Lion Air B737 - 900ER at Ubon Ratchathani Airport

Statistics

Passenger movements

Year Number of
passengers
Aircraft
movements
2005 387,159 2,986
2006 372,633 3,270
2007 387,586 3,369
2008 391,772 3,355
2009 393,449 2,930
2010 452,944 3,903
2011 614,686 5,370
2012 733,893 5,595
2013 835,648 6,340
2014 1,076,957 7,752
2015 1,467,256 10,951
2016 1,726,061 11,697
2017 1,791,828 12,042
2018 1,832,340 11,795
2019 1,790,734 12,017

Busiest domestic routes

Busiest domestic routes to and from Ubon Ratchathani Airport (2017)
Rank Airport Passengers handled
1 Bangkok–Don Mueang 1,411,945
2 Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi 259,721
3 Pattaya/Rayong (UTapao) 65,675
4 Chiang Mai 53,790

Military use

Established in the 1950s as a Royal Thai Air Force base, it was used by the United States Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force during the Vietnam War.

The airport is currently an active Royal Thai Air Force base, the home of 2nd Air Division/21st Wing Air Combat Command. The 211sq Eagles fly Northrup F-5E/F Tiger II fighter aircraft.

References

  1. ^ "Ubon Ratchathani Airport, Monthly Traffic 2010" (PDF). Department of Civil Aviation. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
  2. ^ "Ubon Ratchathani Airport, Monthly Traffic 2011" (PDF). Department of Civil Aviation. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
  3. ^ "Ubon Ratchathani Airport, Monthly Traffic 2012" (PDF). Department of Civil Aviation. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
  4. ^ "Ubon Ratchathani Airport, Monthly Traffic 2013" (PDF). Department of Civil Aviation. Retrieved 2015-02-07.