airports

  • Tourism NewsVisa-on-arrival passengers from 18 countries can now apply online

    Visa-on-arrival passengers from 18 countries can now apply online

    PHOTO: travellingsands.com Visitors from 18 countries, entitled to visas-on-arrival, are being advised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand to apply online for their e-visa. Thai Residents reports that nationals of Bhutan, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan and Vanuatu are all exempt from paying the 2,000 baht…

  • Tourism NewsAbsurdities of modern flying, and do we really need to be shown how to fasten a seat belt?

    Absurdities of modern flying, and do we really need to be shown how to fasten a seat belt?

    PHOTO: Groovy air-hostesses from the late 1960s when flying was more glamourous. “Now everyone can fly” and that’s brought us to where we are now. There used to be a time when flying was a pleasure, an expensive pleasure. The passengers were part of the ‘jet-set’, and they could smoke cigarettes and sit in wide, comfortable seats. They would dress…

  • Northern Thailand NewsChiang Rai and Hat Yai airports NOT closing – Thai transport minister

    Chiang Rai and Hat Yai airports NOT closing – Thai transport minister

    PHOTO: Chiang Rai Airport – mychiangmaitravel.com Chiang Rai’s International Airport is not slated for closure, according to Thailand’s Transport Minister. The comment came after Airports of Thailand’s president announced on Monday October 28 that AOT was ‘considering’ closing Chiang Rai and Hat Yai airports, throwing media, and the staff at the two airports, into a spin. The minister has told…

  • Crime NewsBiometrics identify 8 fake passports in 3 days

    Biometrics identify 8 fake passports in 3 days

    PHOTO: Workpoint News Thai Immigration Police have been lauding the success using their new Biometrics System at the airports. In 3 days, 8 foreigners have been nabbed using fake passports. In the case of these 8 cases, all the passports were purchased from an Iranian Agent. Immigration Police reported the arrest of the foreigners on September 13 who were using…

  • Tourism NewsThai Tourism Minister pushes ahead with visa-free entry for Indian, Chinese visitors

    Thai Tourism Minister pushes ahead with visa-free entry for Indian, Chinese visitors

    PHOTO: ThaiVisa Despite criticism from both the Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and Deputy Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, the Tourism and Sports Minister says he will push on with plans for visa-free entry for Chinese and Indian tourists. Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn plans to put the proposal to Cabinet on August 20, despite the national security concerns of both ministers. “I…

  • Tourism NewsCabinet to consider visa-free travel for Chinese and Indian tourists

    Cabinet to consider visa-free travel for Chinese and Indian tourists

    The Minister of Tourism and Sports, Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, says he intends to introduce visa-free travel for Chinese and Indian tourists later this year. He wants to put the proposal to Cabinet as soon as possible. Chins and India are targets for Thailand’s latest tourism promotions, so visa-free-travel is back on the table for urgent consideration. Currently, citizens of both countries have…

  • Northern Thailand NewsThree Thai airports being renovated to double passenger volumes

    Three Thai airports being renovated to double passenger volumes

    PHOTO: Surat Thani Airport will be doubled in capacity Krabi, Buriram and Surat Thani provincial airports are getting a makeover to double their capacities in 2020, with a combined budget of 11.3 billion baht. Krabi airport will be renovated and expanded to handle double its capacity. The new terminal will be able to handle 8 million passengers a year. A…

  • Crime NewsImmigration police spruik more successes with their biometrics systems

    Immigration police spruik more successes with their biometrics systems

    Immigration police have arrested three more unwanted foreigners for crimes committed in Thailand. The arrests follow people stopped at Immigration queues trying to enter the country last week. In reporting on the success of the biometric systems, police say the new systems helped identify the people and crimes they been allegedly involved in, even though the process of taking all…

  • Transport NewsA proposal for Greater Bangkok’s fourth airport

    A proposal for Greater Bangkok’s fourth airport

    PHOTO: Thailand Construction A new airport in Bangkok’s Nakhon Pathom province, just to the west of the capital, will be greater-Bangkok’s fourth air travel hub. The announcement was made on Saturday. Jarun Meesomboon, deputy director-general of the Airport Department, says the new 3,500 rai airport was a priority for the new Transport Ministry. He optimistically claimed it would cost only…

  • Tourism NewsNumber of passengers and flights drop slightly at 28 secondary Thai airports

    Number of passengers and flights drop slightly at 28 secondary Thai airports

    28 airports under the Thai Airports Department have dropped traffic by 1% compared to the same time last year. The airports under the Airports Department don’t cover the largest airports at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Chiang Rai. Some 14.4 million passengers were recorded at the 28 airports under the department from October 2018 to June…

  • Business NewsHigh-speed rail airport link contracts to be signed next month

    High-speed rail airport link contracts to be signed next month

    The Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee has reported progress in the high-speed rail project to link three airports (Suvarnabhumi, U-Tapao and Don Mueang), and the Map Ta Phut industrial port development project. Contracts for both projects are expected to be signed between state firms and private concessionaires in July. The Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee, chaired by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha,…

  • Business NewsAirports of Thailand open bidding for new duty free contracts at three airports

    Airports of Thailand open bidding for new duty free contracts at three airports

    Airports of Thailand (AoT) says they will finalise the bidding process to announce who will manage the commercial areas at three provincial airports – Phuket, Had Yai and Chiang Mai – on June 10. King Power Duty Free has had a stranglehold on the duty free concession areas of the country’s four main airports but are having to bid for…

  • Bangkok NewsAnti graft body raises concerns about contract bidding at Suvarnabhumi

    Anti graft body raises concerns about contract bidding at Suvarnabhumi

    “The private anti-graft watchdog called on Thai media and the public to keep a close watch on the conduct of the company calling for bids.” The Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand is expressing concerns over alleged lack of transparency in two major contracts under review at Suvarnabhumi Airport. In a statement issued yesterday, the private anti-graft watchdog called on Thai media…

  • Thailand NewsNo more ‘tips’ at Immigration

    No more ‘tips’ at Immigration

    The new Thai immigration chief, Maj-General Surachate Hakparn, has implemented his first promise at immigration stations. The signage going up nationwide is clear and unequivocal. No Tips. That means no more payments to corrupt immigration officials or the agents who collect the tea money from tourists and either pass it on or keep it for themselves. It’s also a tacit…