Just what exactly is the Navy-operated airport in the Thai eastern coast that aspires to be a new commercial air hub officially called? That's anyone's guess.
There are several versions of name for the airfield, a key rear-area facility of the US Air Force in the kingdom during the Vietnam War from 1966 through 1975, which may easily confuse less seasoned travellers.
A signboard placed in front of the decommissioned white Harrier jump jet at the entrance of the passenger terminal says "Welcome to U-tapao International Airport.
On top of the terminal seen by departing and arriving passengers, also announces U-tapao International airport.
But entering the terminal, arriving passengers are greeted by a sign laminated on the tinted glass wall that says Welcome to U-tapao-Pattaya International Airport.
Calling cards of airport staff also carry this name - U-tapao Pattaya International Airport.
But ask for a brochure from the airport's official literature and you will find that the name of the facility is U-tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport.
Adding confusion to the airport's name was an exchange of words between Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul and Transport Minister Prajin Juntong on what the airport should be called.
With strong backing from the travel-tourism industry, Mrs Kobkarn advocated for the name U-Tapao Pattaya International Airport to make it relevant to the Pattaya beach resort where most international passengers are headed from the airport.
"Putting the name of Pattaya will help boost tourists' awareness, because Pattaya is a well-known destination in Thailand that they can access through the airport," she said.
But ACM Prajin rejected her idea outright. He said the airport's name has a long-standing and historical significance, including its role as a military base during the Vietnam War.
Younger tourists might favour Pattaya as the name because they know that place well, but people aged 40 and over know it as U-tapao airport, ACM Prajin told reporters.
He might not hear it right as Mrs Kobkarn in fact did not ask the former Air Force chief to drop the U-tapao name but to include "Pattaya.’’
But airlines like AirAsia, which became the first no-frills carrier to operate to the airport in the 39-year history of U-tapao, simply communicate with their passengers by referring to the airport as the airport serving Pattaya.
"Foreign tourists may have little clue as to where U-tapao Rayong International Airport actually is, but mention Pattaya they click!” an airline executive said.
Naming airports with well-known destinations is simply good branding. For instance, Narita International Airport, the gateway airport serving Greater Tokyo, is widely referred to as Tokyo airport though it is located 60 km east of central Tokyo in Chiba Prefecture.
U-tapao airport, straddling the border between of Rayong and Chon Buri, was called U-tapao Airfield it built around 1964 before the US withdrew from Thailand after the fall of Saigon in 1975.