BANGKOK, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The Thai cabinet on late Tuesday approved 2.3 billion baht (about 68.8 million U.S. dollars) to expand and upgrade facilities at the Ubon Ratchathani International Airport, as part of efforts to promote social and economic development in the lower northeast region.

In its fifth cabinet retreat at Thailand's North Eastern Province of Ubon Ratchathani, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha and cabinet members announced the up-grading of the airport to accommodate additional flights within two years.

Daroon Saengchai of the Airports Department said the 2.3 billion baht will be allocated in expanding airport ramps and adding a second passenger terminal to Ubon Ratchathani International Airport.

"The ramps will be able to accommodate more planes within two years with the second terminal ready by 2024 to increase its capacity to 5 million passengers per year," said Daroon, director-general of Department of Airports (DOA).

Daroon said the cabinet also endorsed upgrades to the Loeng Nok Tha Airport in Yasothon Province, about 100 km north of Ubon Ratchathani.

He said a feasibility study will also be conducted on turning the army airport there into a commercial airport.

Feasibility study will also be carried out on undertaking the Mukdahan airport project in neighboring Mukdahan province, which if carried out may help boost the North Eastern economy with access to Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone in Laos, located just across the Mekong River.