Thailand Sets January 2026 Contract for U-Tapao Aircraft MRO Center

BANGKOK — Thailand’s planned aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul center at U-Tapao airport has reached its most advanced stage, with a contract signing scheduled for January 7, 2026, an official overseeing the project said.

Chula Sukmanop, secretary-general of the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee, said the project will be submitted to the EEC board for approval in December 2025. The MRO facility will occupy about 210 rai (84 acres) within the Eastern Economic Corridor and is intended to position Thailand as a regional aviation hub. In Asia, only Singapore and China currently operate large-scale MRO facilities, he said.

Under the plan, Thai Airways International will be granted operating rights for the entire site and will establish a subsidiary to run the business. Thai Airways will act as the project developer and may operate the facilities directly, form joint ventures with specialized partners, or lease space to private operators for activities such as wide-body aircraft maintenance or other specialized services.

The center will be able to service aircraft from multiple manufacturers, including Airbus and Boeing, and will not be limited to a single brand. The land lease will run for 50 years, with rental rates structured to encourage early investment. Revenue sharing with the state will begin in the fifth year of operations, starting at 3% for years five to 10, rising to 5% for years 10 to 15, and 7% from year 15 onward.

Following the contract signing, the project will move into detailed design and an environmental impact assessment review, which will be expedited under EEC regulations. The EIA process is expected to be completed within 180 days after submission of the full design documents.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2027 and take about three years, aligning with the completion of U-Tapao Airport’s second runway. Chula said construction of the runway has already begun and is expected to be finished within four years.

Development of the passenger terminal will proceed as planned and will not be delayed by the high-speed rail project, allowing the airport to handle increased passenger traffic once the new runway becomes operational.

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