Udon Thani positioned as Northeastern aviation hub; Ministry of Transport and Vietjet Thailand launch Sky ConX to boost GMS economy.

The Ministry of Transport, in partnership with Vietjet Thailand, is upgrading Udon Thani International Airport to become a central aviation hub in Northeastern Thailand. They have launched the "Sky ConX" service, connecting passengers across borders to international destinations via Suvarnabhumi Airport. The airport will also increase flight frequencies between Bangkok and Udon Thani to a maximum of five flights per day. Furthermore, they are exploring the possibility of launching direct flights between Udon Thani and Ho Chi Minh City to capitalize on the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) market, tourism, and investment in the Mekong River basin.

July 23, 2569 – Mr. Patarapong Pataraprasit, Deputy Minister of Transport, revealed at the launch ceremony of connecting flight services at Udon Thani International Airport the direction of the policy to establish a world-class aviation hub and an airport for regional development. This involves upgrading regional airports to become economic and social centers through cooperation with Vietjet Thailand to enhance the capacity of Udon Thani International Airport, including increasing domestic flights and expanding the international flight network.

Mr. Phatarapong stated that promoting Udon Thani as the aviation hub of Northeastern Thailand will be a significant step in connecting the area to the regional transportation system.

"The Ministry of Transport has a policy to elevate Thailand to become a world-class aviation hub by developing the capabilities of major and regional airports nationwide. It is also driving the 'Airport for Regional Development' policy to upgrade regional airports into economic and social centers for their respective areas."

Udon Thani province's structural potential is reflected in its Gross Provincial Product (GPP), reaching 132,615 million baht and growing at an average rate of 6.25% per year. This is supported by its strategic location as a gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), its role as a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) center, its industrial estates, and its attractive cultural tourist destinations. Expanding cross-border travel routes is therefore a crucial mechanism for stimulating trade, investment, and distributing income to the local economy.

Ms. Tipawan Wangsanuvat, Director of Udon Thani Airport, added that Udon Thani International Airport is the second-highest volume of regional airports under the Department of Airports, with over 2 million users by 2025. This reflects its capacity to accommodate and connect to nearby provinces. The airport has prepared its infrastructure to fully support the growth of international flights and passengers in collaboration with airlines.

Mr. Woraneti Laphapang, CEO of Vietjet Thailand, revealed that the airline has a two-phase roadmap for developing Udon Thani Airport. The first phase involves increasing the frequency of flights on the Udon Thani-Bangkok route to a maximum of five flights per day within this year. The second phase involves launching the Sky ConX connecting flight service, which allows passengers to check in and load baggage directly from Udon Thani, clear customs and immigration at the originating airport, and then quickly continue their journey to international destinations such as Tokyo, Osaka, Taipei, and Da Nang via Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Mr. Woraneti discussed future flight route expansion plans to support economic growth, stating, "For the next phase of our operations, Vietjet Thailand is studying the feasibility of launching direct international flights from Udon Thani International Airport to international destinations on the Udon Thani – Ho Chi Minh City route. This aims to support trade, investment, and tourism connectivity between countries in the Northeast region."

Furthermore, executives from the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Airports, and Vietjet Thailand met with the Vietnamese Association of Udon Thani Province at Vietnam Town to establish a strategic cooperation framework. This included promoting cultural tourism, highlighting the local identity of Thai people of Vietnamese descent, and preparing for the opening of direct flights to Vietnam. The aim is to elevate Udon Thani Province into a long-term gateway for trade and tourism in the region.

Read all interesting business news here.