Ubon Ratchathani Airport 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.
History The airport was first opened in 1921, when the nearby Warin Chamrap district was affected by smallpox and cholera epidemic. 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. These flights proved unprofitable, and while the international signage is still in place, only domestic flights have operated for a number of years.
Airlines and destinations
Statistics Passenger movements + Year Number ofpassengers Aircraftmovements2005387,159 2,9862006372,633 3,2702007 387,586 3,3692008391,772 3,3552009393,449 2,9302010452,944 3,9032011614,686 5,3702012733,893 5,595 2013835,648 6,34020141,076,957 7,75220151,467,256 10,95120161,726,061 11,69720171,791,828 12,04220181,832,340 11,7952019 1,790,734 12,017
Busiest domestic routes + Busiest domestic routes to and from Ubon Ratchathani Airport (2017) Rank Airport Passengers handled1 Bangkok–Don Mueang1,411,9452 Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi259,7213 Pattaya/Rayong (UTapao)65,6754 Chiang Mai53,790
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.
References
External links
Ubon Ratchathani Airport, Dept of Civil Aviation UBP Real Time Flight Information