When people search for “Pattaya airport”, they mean U-Tapao (U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport, code UTP). It sits in Ban Chang district, Rayong province, southeast of the city. The airport is run under the Royal Thai Navy and handled 369,610 passengers in 2025. Flights are limited, so most visitors fly into Bangkok and take the motorway to Pattaya. All fares and timetables below were taken from the airport and operator websites on 17 October 2026.
U-Tapao or Suvarnabhumi
| U-Tapao (UTP) | Suvarnabhumi (BKK) | |
|---|---|---|
| From Central Pattaya | 43.3 km, about 44 min | 122.2 km, about 1 h 26 min |
| From Jomtien | 37.0 km, about 39 min | 127.4 km, about 1 h 29 min |
| Bus to town | minibus 150 baht, 3 a day | 135-158 baht, 06:00 to 22:00 |
| Taxi | Loma Pattaya Taxi, 24 hours | taxi counter, Level 1, Gates 4-7 |
| Flights | charters and a few scheduled routes | international flights by dozens of airlines |
Distances and times without traffic, from the centre of each area to the passenger terminal: OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data. If you have the choice, U-Tapao saves about 40 minutes on the road. If your flight only goes to Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi gives you far more flights and buses.
Who flies to U-Tapao
On 17 October 2026 the airport’s airline list included AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Bangkok Airways, Qatar Airways, TUI Airways, SCAT of Kazakhstan and several Chinese carriers, among others. The list shows which airlines are handled at the airport, not a timetable: check with the airline or your tour operator for flights on your dates.
Getting from U-Tapao to Pattaya
| Operator | Destinations | Fare, October 2026 | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suvarnabhumi Burapha, minibus | Big C, South Pattaya | 150 baht | 3 departures a day | outside Terminal 2 |
| Loma Pattaya Taxi | Naklua, Central and South Pattaya, Jomtien, Na Jomtien, Bangkok and 15 more | at the counter | 24 hours | car park in front of Terminal 1 |
| Vanatana, limousines | Pattaya, Jomtien, Rayong, Ban Phe, Koh Larn, Koh Chang | at the counter | during flight hours | outside Terminal 2 |
| Peyton & Charmed | Koh Chang, Trat, Pattaya, Rayong | on request | 09:00-18:30 | Terminal 2, Level 1 |
| BH Rayong, van | Ban Chang, Rayong, Ban Phe | 50-300 baht | 14:50, Tue, Thu, Sun only | per the airport |
The Suvarnabhumi Burapha minibus leaves the airport three times a day. The airport site lists “00:30 PM, 02:00 PM, 05:00 PM”, which means 12:30, 14:00 and 17:00. Return runs leave Pattaya at 09:30, 12:00 and 15:00 with hotel pickup if you tell the operator a day ahead. The airport notes that schedules can change without notice.
Drive times between the U-Tapao terminal and Pattaya without traffic (OSRM, from each place to the terminal):
| To | Km | Minutes | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nong Nooch Tropical Garden | 22.7 | 35 | map |
| Na Jomtien | 32.5 | 37 | map |
| Jomtien | 37.0 | 39 | map |
| Central Pattaya | 43.3 | 44 | map |
From Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya
Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is on the eastern edge of Bangkok and run by AOT. Its transport section lists two bus operators to Pattaya, the public taxi rank and the official limousine.
| Option | To | Fare, October 2026 | When | Where to board |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roong Reuang Coach | Pattaya bus station (North Pattaya) | 135 baht | 07:30, 09:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30, 17:30, 18:30 | Level 1, Gate 8 |
| Roong Reuang Coach | Jomtien bus station | 158 baht | hourly 06:00-22:00 | Level 1, Gate 8 |
| Bor Khor Sor (Transport Co.) | Pattaya | about 140-190 baht | 06:30-21:00 | per AOT |
| Public taxi | anywhere | meter or agreed fare, plus 50 baht and tolls | on arrival | Level 1, between Gates 4 and 7 |
| AOT Limousine | Pattaya | from 2,700 baht | 24 hours | per AOT |
The 22:00 Roong Reuang bus stops at Pattaya bus station and does not continue to Jomtien. The ride takes about 2 hours. There are no child or senior fares; one checked bag up to 20 kg and one personal bag travel free. The name on the ticket must match your passport.
How the taxi works: according to AOT, for trips beyond 20 km the Department of Land Transport rules allow you to agree a fare instead of using the meter. If you go by meter, the AOT scale is 35 baht for the first kilometre, then 6.50 to 10.50 baht per km depending on distance. On that scale, 122 km to Central Pattaya works out at about 1,120 baht before traffic time, plus the 50-baht airport surcharge and tolls (our calculation, October 2026).
Buses from Ekkamai and Mo Chit, the train and private transfers are covered in Bangkok to Pattaya.
Before you land
Fill in the TDAC arrival card online before you fly. It is free and only valid on the official site: here is how to avoid copycat sites, in TDAC arrival card. Duty-free allowances are on Thailand customs. For areas and seasons, see the Pattaya travel guide.
FAQ
Does Pattaya have an airport?
Not inside the city. The nearest is U-Tapao (UTP) in Rayong province, 43 km by road from Central Pattaya. It handles few flights, so most visitors fly into Suvarnabhumi (BKK) in Bangkok and drive 122 km down the motorway.
How do I get from U-Tapao Airport to Pattaya?
The cheapest option is the Suvarnabhumi Burapha minibus: 150 baht to Big C in South Pattaya, three departures a day (12:30, 14:00 and 17:00 per the airport website). Loma Pattaya Taxi works 24 hours from the car park in front of Terminal 1, and Vanatana limousines wait outside Terminal 2. The airport does not publish taxi or limousine fares, so agree the price at the counter before you get in.
How long is the drive from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya?
The OSRM route between Central Pattaya and the terminal is 122.2 km, about 1 hour 26 minutes without traffic. The Roong Reuang Coach bus takes about 2 hours, and the operator warns that traffic can stretch that.
Where is the Pattaya bus at Suvarnabhumi Airport?
Roong Reuang Coach boards on Level 1 at Gate 8, next to arrivals. Be there at least 15 minutes before departure. Book a seat on a specific bus in advance if you can: tickets are non-refundable, and date or time changes cost 30 baht and must be made at least 2 days ahead.
Is there a late-night bus from Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya?
The last Roong Reuang Coach bus towards Jomtien leaves at 22:00 and terminates at Pattaya bus station. After that, your options are the airport taxi counter on Level 1 or a pre-booked transfer. State-owned Transport Co. lists its own Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya service from 06:30 to 21:00.
How much is a taxi from Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya?
The airport publishes no fixed fare to Pattaya. On a trip this long you can use the meter or agree a price up front, plus a 50-baht airport surcharge and expressway tolls. Using the per-km meter scale on the AOT website, 122 km comes to about 1,120 baht before any traffic time, by our calculation. The official AOT Limousine starts at 2,700 baht to Pattaya.
Sources
- U-Tapao Airport. Public transportation (all operators)
- U-Tapao Airport. Suvarnabhumi Burapha minibus to Pattaya
- U-Tapao Airport. Loma Pattaya Taxi
- U-Tapao Airport. Vanatana limousines
- U-Tapao Airport. BH Rayong vans to Rayong and Ban Phe
- U-Tapao Airport. Airline information
- U-Tapao Airport. Our Story (history)
- U-Tapao Airport. Traffic statistics (UTAPAO Facts)
- AOT, Suvarnabhumi Airport. Transportation: Roong Reuang Coach
- AOT, Suvarnabhumi Airport. Transportation: Bor Khor Sor buses (Transport Co.)
- AOT, Suvarnabhumi Airport. Transportation: public taxi
- AOT, Suvarnabhumi Airport. Taxi rate per km
- Roong Reuang Coach. Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya bus station
- Roong Reuang Coach. Suvarnabhumi to Jomtien bus station
- AOT Limousine. Popular routes and fares
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Central Pattaya to the Suvarnabhumi Airport passenger terminal
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Central Pattaya to the U-Tapao Airport passenger terminal (OSM way 242396695)
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Jomtien Beach to the Suvarnabhumi Airport passenger terminal
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