"Phattharapong Pattharaprasit"The Deputy Minister of Transport unveiled plans to upgrade regional airports and partner with airlines to boost flight frequencies by 50%, pushing forward."Udon Thani Airport"toward becoming the international aviation hub of the Northeast.
Recently, Mr. Phattharapong Pattharaprasit, Deputy Minister of Transport, updated stakeholders on progress in elevating the aviation industry. He outlined a strategic plan to upgrade regional airports and expand flight networks to promote Thai airports as international aviation hubs. Discussions with Thai VietJet Air include increasing weekly flight frequencies from 98 to 147 flights, a 50% increase, covering round-trip routes between Bangkok and key regional airports including Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, Surat Thani, and Ubon Ratchathani. This aims to facilitate travel, enhance regional connectivity, stimulate tourism, and drive the national economy. The airline also plans to expand international routes from Udon Thani to high-potential destinations such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam; Taipei, Taiwan; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. This will help elevate Udon Thani Province as the Northeast's international aviation center, supporting economic, trade, investment, and tourism links with neighboring countries.
Thai VietJet Air is currently studying the feasibility of launching direct international flights on the Udon Thani–Ho Chi Minh and Krabi–Ho Chi Minh routes by 2027 to expand travel options and boost tourism potential. Additionally, it is strategically partnering with EZY Airlines to develop routes connecting Udon Thani with key Vietnamese cities, including Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, expected to commence by the fourth quarter of 2026. This cooperation will enhance market opportunities, increase passenger volumes, and support future growth in the aviation industry.
Mr. Phattharapong added that he has discussed with Thai VietJet Air the expansion of flights to other promising secondary cities such as Ranong, Trang, Khon Kaen–Hua Hin, and Chiang Mai–Hua Hin. He also mentioned plans for international routes from Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore to Hua Hin, which will be able to support international flights in the near future.
In closing, Mr. Phattharapong stated that the Ministry of Transport is committed to continuously supporting the development of aviation infrastructure alongside fostering cooperation with airlines and the private sector. This aims to enhance the capabilities of regional airports, improve international travel connectivity, and promote Thailand as a sustainable regional aviation hub.
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