Ubon Ratchathani Airport
Airport in northeastern Thailand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ubon Ratchathani Airport (IATA: UBP, ICAO: VTUU) is in Tambon Nai Mueang, Amphoe Mueang Ubon Ratchathani, 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 type | Public / Military | ||||||||||
| Owner | Royal Thai Air Force | ||||||||||
| Operator | Department of Airports | ||||||||||
| Serves | Ubon Ratchathani | ||||||||||
| Location | Tambon Nai Mueang, Amphoe Mueang Ubon Ratchathani, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand | ||||||||||
| Opened | 1921 | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 124 m (407 ft) | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 15°15′04.60″N 104°52′12.83″E | ||||||||||
| Website | minisite | ||||||||||
| Maps | |||||||||||
 | |||||||||||
  UBP/VTUU Location of airport in Thailand | |||||||||||
 Interactive map of Ubon Ratchathani Airport | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Statistics (2024) | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Sources: Department of Airports | |||||||||||
History
The airport was first opened in 1921, when the nearby Warin Chamrap district was affected by smallpox and cholera epidemic.[citation needed] The authorities sent doctors and medical supplies by plane to Ubon Ratchathani.
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.[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
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[6] | 3,903[6] |
| 2011 | 614,686[7] | 5,370[7] |
| 2012 | 733,893[8] | 5,595[8] |
| 2013 | 835,648[9] | 6,340[9] |
| 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
| 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.
