Thai airports to launch biometric ID system this November

Six major Thai airports will introduce an automated biometric identification system using facial recognition technology later this year, allowing passengers to present their physical ID only once during their journey.

This system, set to launch for domestic passengers on November 1 and for international passengers on December 1, will be operated by the Airport Authority of Thailand. Kirati Kitmanawat, the director, confirmed the timeline for implementation.

Passengers must grant access to their identification information when checking in at the counter or through self-service kiosks at the airports. The system will then electronically collect and store biometric information and travel itineraries, enabling travellers to move from baggage drop to boarding gate without showing their passports or boarding passes. Each registration will be valid for a single journey only.

The six airports adopting this system are Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Mae Fah Luang/Chiang Rai International Airport, Phuket International Airport, and Hat Yai International Airport, reported Bangkok Post.

Passenger numbers in these airports for September and October have increased by almost 20% compared to last year, with even higher figures anticipated for the coming year, according to Kirati.

“The new system is aimed at improving efficiency and passenger experience.”

In related news, Airports of Thailand (AoT) announced ambitious plans to upgrade Suvarnabhumi International Airport in a bid to accommodate 80 million passengers annually by 2031.

AoT President Kerati Kijmanawat stated yesterday, August 28, that the agency is revising its master plan to expand the airport’s capacity over the next decade. This move aligns with the government’s goal to see Suvarnabhumi Airport rank among the top 20 airports globally within five years.

The master plan includes the construction of a new passenger terminal, the South Terminal, on the airport’s southern side. This project is estimated to cost 120 billion baht (US$3.5 billion). Additionally, a fourth runway will be built at an estimated cost of 20 billion baht (US$590 million), said Kerati.