The government is advancing Thailand as a regional aviation hub by launching the “Udon Thani–Suvarnabhumi–Tokyo” route and preparing to upgrade Udon Thani Airport to an “international airport.”Tags: [government, aviation, Udon Thani Airport, international airport, flight route]
On 27 July 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Lalida Pertwiwatthana, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, stated that under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s leadership, the government is committed to establishing Thailand as a global aviation center. The Ministry of Transport has partnered with Thai Vietjet Air to open the Udon Thani–Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi)–Tokyo (Narita) route. A highlight is the Sky ConX (Check-Thru Service), allowing passengers to check in, check baggage, and receive boarding passes once at the origin airport, without rechecking bags or checking in again at Suvarnabhumi Airport, facilitating fast and seamless international travel.Tags: [Ministry of Transport, Thai Vietjet Air, Sky ConX, international travel, flight route]
Mr. Phattharaphong Phattharaprasit, Deputy Minister of Transport, presided over the opening ceremony of “Open Sky Udon Thani: Connecting International Travel,” welcomed the inaugural VZ200 flight, and joined a meeting to monitor the plan to upgrade Udon Thani Airport. He stated that Udon Thani Airport is currently undergoing the official process to be declared an “international airport,” with review by the Department of Airports before submission to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).Tags: [Udon Thani Airport, international airport upgrade, Deputy Minister of Transport, CAAT]
Furthermore, the Ministry of Transport is expediting infrastructure upgrades within the airport, such as improving Terminal B to fully accommodate C.I.Q. agencies (Customs, Immigration, Quarantine for plants and animals, and disease control). They are also expanding the airport access road and constructing a road connecting the fire station to the runway to enhance safety standards and convenience for users.Tags: [infrastructure, airport upgrades, Terminal B, C.I.Q., safety, convenience]
Currently, Udon Thani Airport can handle over 3.4 million passengers annually, with more than 30 domestic flights daily. It also offers direct flights to China, including Yiwu and Wuxi. The introduction of Sky ConX service linking to Tokyo strengthens Udon Thani’s potential as a central aviation hub for the Northeast region and the Greater Mekong Subregion.Tags: [Udon Thani Airport, passenger capacity, domestic flights, international flights, Northeast Thailand, Greater Mekong Subregion]
At the same time, the Ministry of Transport is preparing to support the 2026 World Horticultural Expo in Udon Thani Province (1 Nov 2026 – 14 Mar 2027) under the One Transport policy. Shuttle buses will provide 40 daily trips between the airport and the event venue across three main points to stimulate the economy, trade, investment, and tourism, ensuring sustainable local income distribution.Tags: [World Horticultural Expo, Udon Thani, shuttle bus, One Transport policy, economic stimulus, tourism]