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.

Ubon Ratchathani Airport

ท่าอากาศยานอุบลราชธานี
Summary
Airport typePublic / Military
OwnerRoyal Thai Air Force
OperatorDepartment of Airports
ServesUbon Ratchathani
LocationNai Mueang, Mueang, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
Opened1921; 103 years ago (1921)
Elevation AMSL406 ft / 124 m
Coordinates15°15′04.60″N 104°52′12.83″E / 15.2512778°N 104.8702306°E / 15.2512778; 104.8702306
Websiteminisite.airports.go.th/ubonratchathani
Maps
Map
UBP/VTUU is located in Thailand
UBP/VTUU
UBP/VTUU
Location of airport in Thailand
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
05/23 9,848 3,002 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Passengers1,295,870 Increase3.91%
Aircraft movements8,512 Decrease4.90%
Freight (tonnes)313.89 Decrease7.61%

History

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The airport was first opened in 1921, when the nearby Warin Chamrap district was affected by smallpox and cholera epidemic.[citation needed] 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[when?] an international civilian airport, with direct flights to Vietnam.[citation needed] These flights proved unprofitable, and while the international signage is still in place, only domestic flights have operated for a number of years.[citation needed]

Airlines and destinations

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AirlinesDestinations
Nok Air Bangkok–Don Mueang, Chiang Mai
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

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Passenger movements

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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[1] 3,903[1]
2011 614,686[2] 5,370[2]
2012 733,893[3] 5,595[3]
2013 835,648[4] 6,340[4]
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

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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

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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

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