Thai Airways and the Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) signed a 50-year lease in late September to build an aircraft maintenance center at U-Tapao International Airport, located near Pattaya. The lease, which officially began on October 1, covers 33.6 hectares of land and involves an investment of about 10 billion bahts (265 million euros). The project is expected to start construction in 2027, with the facility anticipated to open in 2030. The new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center will provide heavy maintenance services and aircraft repainting, using digital tools and advanced inspection methods. It will also include a training center for technical staff. The facility will be capable of servicing aircraft from major manufacturers such as Airbus and Boeing, and it will primarily serve Thai Airways' fleet. However, it will also offer its maintenance capacity to other airlines when available. In addition to Thai Airways, Vietjet, a Vietnamese low-cost airline, has also signed a cooperation agreement with the EECO to establish an MRO center at the same airport. Construction for Vietjet's center is expected to begin in early 2027, with an estimated completion time of three years. This timeline aligns with the planned delivery of the second runway at the airport, which will enhance the airport's capacity to handle more aircraft and maintenance activities. The development of these MRO centers is part of a broader effort to boost Thailand's aviation industry and position U-Tapao International Airport as a regional hub for aircraft maintenance and repair services. The projects are expected to create jobs and contribute to the local and national economy by attracting more aviation-related investments to the region.