Thai Lion Air, a low-cost airline, will launch direct service from Pattaya’s U-Tapao airport late this summer. The company will open a ticket office in Pattaya’s airport terminal in August, and flights will link Pattaya with Chengdu, Chongqing, and Nanchang, China.
Observers say that Thai Lion is targeting its major competitor, Thai AirAsia. In 2016, 80% of passengers handled by U-Tapao airport were carried by AirAsia.