Suvarnabhumi Airport opens automated channels to foreign travellers

The Immigration Bureau (IB) announced that Suvarnabhumi International Airport’s automated channels are now accessible to foreigners to alleviate congestion for outbound travel. This decision, effective from December 15, aligns with the Prime Minister’s directive, enforced by Srettha Thavasin, to enhance the outbound immigration system.

The move is aimed at reducing the density of passengers who need to rush to catch their flights, echoing the government’s tourism promotion policy.

The 61 year old Thai prime minister had previously given orders during a sub-committee meeting related to tourism at Suvarnabhumi Airport. This move was implemented before his departure to attend the APEC meeting in San Francisco, USA, in mid-November this year.

Today, Lieutenant Police General Itthiphon Itthisanronnachai, Chief of the Immigration Bureau, divulged that the IB has developed an automated channel or an automatic passport control system for departures at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Initially, it could only check Thai passport holders, but from December 15, it will also accommodate foreign passport holders.

The automated channel system for departures at Suvarnabhumi Airport, in operation since 2012, comprises 16 machines primarily used to check Thai passengers. The process, which includes cross-checking faces and fingerprints, takes approximately 20 seconds per person. In comparison, manual checking by officers takes about 45 seconds per person.

Suvarnabhumi Airport currently handles between 50,000 and 60,000 outbound passengers daily. It experiences peak congestion when over 20 flights depart within the same hour. Passengers must go through check-in, security scanning, and immigration processes, risking missing their flight if delayed. Hence, the IB is striving to streamline various steps to expedite the processing of large numbers of passengers, to avoid any impact on flight schedules.

Flight schedule impact

Lt. Pol. Gen. Itthipol revealed that PM Srettha, concerned about this issue, had ordered him to explore the feasibility of using the automated channel system to check foreign passengers. This would enhance the ability to alleviate congestion. He had then convened a meeting with executives of Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited, the Immigration Bureau 2, and the Immigration Check Technology Centre, including the company responsible for the immigration check technology, at the beginning of October.

The study concluded that it was feasible, requiring only the development of a new inspection programme. Confirmation was received that the system would be operational by December 15. However, foreign nationals using the automated channel system must hold E-Passports that meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which has over 70 member countries with approximately 30,000 outbound travellers daily.

In July, Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited will purchase an automated channel system to replace the existing 12-year-old system at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, both inbound and outbound.

At Suvarnabhumi, about 80 machines will be installed for international departures, compared to the current 16 machines, and 16 machines will replace the existing ones for international arrivals.

At Don Mueang Airport, eight machines will be installed to replace the current four machines for international departures and arrivals. The upgraded system will be more modern, accurate, and faster.

Lt. Pol. Gen. Itthipol concluded that for international arrivals, officers are still required to screen and check individuals entering the kingdom for national security.

In the future, once additional automated channel machines are installed for departures, more officers can be deployed to increase the number of manual check lanes for arrivals, thereby accommodating more passengers during peak flight periods, reported KhaoSod.