Thai Airways are awaiting approval from the board of directors to construct a US$418 million MRO hub at Utapao in Southeast Thailand.
Work on the so-called ‘smart hangar’ would begin in 2027, with 2030 set as a targeted opening date. The proposed site lies beside U-Tapao Rayong–Pattaya International Airport’s second runway, which is currently under construction. Thai Airways will pay the government, who owe the site, through a revenue-sharing model set out over decades.
The new hangar would fill a critical gap in the Thai MRO market. At present, carriers in the country send most of their aircraft abroad for repairs and maintenance, driving up costs and increasing turnaround time. Thai Airways are currently undertaking a growth transformation strategy that will see their fleet expand to 150 aircraft as it targets US$12 billion in revenue by 2033.
As the aviation industry has taken off across Southeast Asia, MRO has become an increasingly pressing issue. Recent years have seen new facilities emerge in Bali, Indonesia, as well as in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
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