AOT and immigration unite to tackle Suvarnabhumi Airport queues

[webfact]

 

Airports of Thailand (AOT) and Immigration Division 2 are joining hands to tackle a pressing issue at Suvarnabhumi Airport: inordinately long passenger queues. The urgency to address this problem was triggered by the concerns raised by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin about the prolonged processing times at the airport.

 

AOT President Kerati Kijmanawat and Immigration Division 2’s Police Major General Choengron Rimpadee conducted a subsequent inspection to assess the situation on the ground. Their findings revealed that during peak hours, the airport was juggling between 5,000 to 6,000 passengers per hour. Consequently, immigration procedures were taking up to 1 hour and 30 minutes, a duration that is unacceptable by any standards, reported The Pattaya News.

 

To cut down the wait times to a more reasonable 30 minutes, AOT charted a comprehensive plan that is set to go into action by March 30. This includes the reinforcement of the airport’s workforce by employing an additional 800 staff members. These recruits will be tasked with conducting searches and guiding passengers through the airport to expedite the process.

 

In unison with AOT’s efforts, immigration authorities are also set to bolster their strength during busy periods. As of March 1, they have positioned 200 new immigration officers at the airport. This number is expected to double by the end of the year, providing a strong impetus to the airport’s passenger handling capabilities.

The plan doesn’t stop there. To further expedite the immigration process, 80 extra automatic channels, fitted with improved passport-checking software, will be up and running by July 15. Furthermore, 20 new gates are slated for installation by June 15. These enhancements will incorporate state-of-the-art technology that can scrutinise power banks without requiring passengers to take off their shoes.

 

Another significant step towards improving the passenger experience at the airport is the introduction of a Common Use Passenger Processing System. This system allows passengers to independently check-in and load their baggage, reducing the dependence on airport staff. To make optimal use of this system, AOT is urging airlines to open their check-in counters four hours before departure.

 

Leadership acknowledgement

In a quote from the original article, Police Major General Choengron Rimpadee said, the new system will allow passengers to check-in and load their baggage without assistance, which will significantly reduce waiting times.

 

The combined efforts of AOT and Immigration Division 2 signal a substantial push towards improving the passenger experience at Suvarnabhumi Airport. By leveraging technology and increasing manpower, they aim to streamline processes and reduce waiting times, ensuring a smoother and more efficient journey for all travellers passing through the airport.

 

by Top 

Photo via Matichon

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-02-29

 

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[richard_smith237]

17 yrs to get that sorted then…

 

…. Progress …

 

 

[ezzra]

There are only 2 ways to make things better, either simplify and streamline in/out procedures or put many

more immigration officers on 24/7, and since we know Thailand passions for documents, red/blue chops,

visa for this and permission for that, that leaves the second choice...

[scorecard]

But let's wait and see some actual noticeable improvement.

 

Plus even 30 minutes to get processed to enter the country is way too long. Changi airport has very large crowds of arriving passengers all day, I've never waited more than a few minutes to get stamped in and Singapore is /has already embraced hi-tech processing to further improve processing time. 

 

Further, why aren't these items already in place months ago at Suvarnabhumi? 

[D M G]

Visit Singapore and learn

[bradiston]

What a total shambles. There's Srettha running around luring 1000s more tourists and the airport can't cope. Totally Thai.

[4MyEgo]

Imagine if they reduced the paperwork requirements for Retirement and Marriage extensions, i.e. reduced to a photo copy of passport page with photo and bank letter/statement, pay fee.

 

I wonder what the immigration officers would have to do then, hey, relocated to Swampy (promotion) to tackle the crowds, genius, but that would mean work and less/zero split of any tea money previously had.

 

Oh well, was worth a thought.

[Skipalongcassidy]

53 minutes ago, D M G said:

Visit Singapore and learn

That is NOT the Thai way... their very culture is to reinvent the wheel each and every time.

[Skipalongcassidy]

5 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Imagine if they reduced the paperwork requirements for Retirement and Marriage extensions, i.e. reduced to a photo copy of passport page with photo and bank letter/statement, pay fee.

 

I wonder what the immigration officers would have to do then, hey, relocated to Swampy (promotion) to tackle the crowds, genius, but that would mean work and less/zero split of any tea money previously had.

 

Oh well, was worth a thought.

Different issue... but, yes reform would make the renewal of visa process easier... that said... I renewed my marriage visa in a 30 minute time yesterday at immigration... YES I USED AN AGENT... easy in and out.

[Smokey and the Bandit]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

But let's wait and see some actual noticeable improvement.

 

Plus even 30 minutes to get processed to enter the country is way too long. Changi airport has very large crowds of arriving passengers all day, I've never waited more than a few minutes to get stamped in and Singapore is /has already embraced hi-tech processing to further improve processing time. 

 

Further, why aren't these items already in place months ago at Suvarnabhumi? 

Fully agree, but you are comparing apples and oranges! However to be fair even countries like the USA and the UK have long wait times.

Try going thru Chicago o Hare, or LAX its not good!

[RichardColeman]

30th March ? So basically reduced after all the chinese have gone home LOL

[gejohesch]

23 minutes ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

That is NOT the Thai way... their very culture is to reinvent the wheel each and every time.

Having been employed (as an expat advisor) for a few years in a very large Thai organisation, years ago, I can confirm : learning from others is not very much the Thai way. Yes, Thais may listen politely, but often any advise will be let to fly over their heads. And, btw, there cannot be much of a comparison with Singapore - totally different culture.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Airports of Thailand (AOT) and Immigration Division 2 are joining hands to tackle a pressing issue at Suvarnabhumi Airport: inordinately long passenger queues. The urgency to address this problem was triggered by the concerns raised by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin about the prolonged processing times at the airport.

Amazing what 6-lace-holes can do.

[jacko45k]

35 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Imagine if they reduced the paperwork requirements for Retirement and Marriage extensions, i.e. reduced to a photo copy of passport page with photo and bank letter/statement, pay fee.

 

I wonder what the immigration officers would have to do then, hey, relocated to Swampy (promotion) to tackle the crowds, genius, but that would mean work and less/zero split of any tea money previously had.

 

Oh well, was worth a thought.

The topic here is queues at the airport. What you mention is only done in domestic immigration offices. 

[ChrisY1]

2024 and still massive waits and queues at all international airports...a bit of talk about speeding it up...but really, Thailand just remains in development. 

The cops are not at all interested in streamlining their operations.....they will keep the system slow, almost it seems, out of spite!

[mikebell]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

a duration that is unacceptable by any standards,

Not at Manchester airport where 2 hours of rudeness by unruly, impolite staff in scruffy surroundings is the norm.

[Korat Kiwi]

"These enhancements will incorporate state-of-the-art technology that can scrutinise power banks without requiring passengers to take off their shoes." 

 

I didn't know that we were supposed to transport power banks in our shoes.... That's a new one! 

[wensiensheng]

They suddenly realized the issues at the airport? We have suffered for years.

 

To be fair, most airports in the UK are the same, but Singapore is not. Compare yourself with the best, not the worst, as my mother used to say.

 

the sad thing is, we all know that after the hoopla dies down, everything will drift back to the same as before as attention switches elsewhere and machines break down through lack of maintenance or some harebrained decision is taken that negates any benefits gained.

 

I’d wager that in a years time the same issues will be back. It’s quite depressing really. 

Edited February 29 by wensiensheng

[david rucker]

Recent trip to VN. Prior Visa on arrival approved. 1.5 - 2.0 minutes per approval at immigration desk. No biometrics or camera shots. Was impressed.

[Bangkok Barry]

1 hour ago, gejohesch said:

Thais may listen politely, but often any advise will be let to fly over their heads.

 

[alex8912]

29 minutes ago, david rucker said:

Recent trip to VN. Prior Visa on arrival approved. 1.5 - 2.0 minutes per approval at immigration desk. No biometrics or camera shots. Was impressed.

Just came back from Vietnam same experience entering Danang and exiting Saigon. Very quick and soo many tourists are going now and just about everyone I spoke to was " skipping Thailand" the Vietnamese are getting more proficient in English , the large entertainment areas and just everywhere in general are quite clean. You can actually find garbage cans too! I saw almost no homeless people. The locals just seem to REALLY want tourists and prices are just fantastic for hotels , food , beer and touring around. I can't wait to go back next year. 

[bamnutsak]

There are so many variables, and meshed processes, which vary by departing and arriving flights, that optimization is challenging.

 

For arriving passengers it starts with banks of flights causing peak flight ops (landings per hour), and for departing passengers, traffic jams on level four.

 

One little hiccup and that day's performance goals are shot.

 

Staffing seems to be the number one problem, other than Customs of course who simply sleep through their shift. Pay people a premium for work at the airport.

 

Scheduling might be the next biggest hurdle. Aligning peak times with proper staffing levels is a must.

 

And coordination between functioning organizations, which is probably non-existent today, may be the third biggest issue.

 

Solutions will take more than words and surprise visits. IMO one person must own the proper functioning of the airport and that would be the Minister of Transport. If they can't do the job fire them and hire someone who can.

 

 

 

 

[Sydebolle]

30 minutes is 25 minutes too much; go and see, how other - much bigger and busier - airports are handling immigration; first and foremost Singapore. 

But I sometimes wonder who really runs this country; quite obviously it is not the "elected" governments ........ 

[waxon]

Departed Suvarnabhumi on 05 Feb in the mid-morning. It took 45 minutes to get up the escalator and through security to finally reach the down escalator to immigration. They had an airport employee metering the flow on the escalator. That long narrow hall just before going down has no a/c and was packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people. Once down to the immigration level, only half the lanes were staffed. It was taking a minute 50 per person to get through. Total time through security and immigration: 1+30. 
 

Seems that the leadership of Immigration Division 2 cannot identify they have a staffing problem until the PM tells them. 
 

Two issues here. Staffing - 200 extra officers (at what time of day?). But most importantly, ineffective leadership at Division 2. Why does it take the PM to tell them there is a problem? What is so much more important that they cannot spend a few moments resolving the BKK issue?
 

Technology aside (it will take years to install, breakdown (made in China) and be ineffective anyway), get someone who knows how to think on their own without adult supervision. 

[ikke1959]

Advice more than enough, but the Thai culture will never accept ideas from others. Everybody thinks they are the most important person and make their own rules. At the airport it is the same.. Long rows waiting.. Immigration officers who see that is growing start to come and open their counter in a slow way. The visitor has to make a pic leaving also as arriving , biometric fingerprints and as an arrival passenger they need a boarding pass.. ( In which other country do have to show that??) Than checking all the pages of your passport, write a story in the computer and stamp the passport. But take it easy.. rows will grow but they take their time. Where are the automatic passport checks?? Why not all counters occupied the whole day? Why boarding passes for entry? And if you have a re entry permit you have to go to the local immigration office for your address notification and 90 days paper.. Are computers not connected with eachother?? local immigration different than the leaving side and different again from the entrance side?? Maybe they should work on that

[brianthainess]

2 hours ago, mokwit said:

What wheel?

The one with so many hubs, that it jammed, and flew into thousands of pieces, and scattered allover every province.

[khunjeff]

The head of AOT keeps giving the same speech again and again in response to every crisis: we're bringing on 200, 400, 800 extra staff to guide people through the procedures!! Guess what? Passengers know where to go, that's why they're in the queues - the problem is the number and speed of security and immigration stations, not people getting lost on the way there.

 

And the bizarre repetition of how great the electronic check-in kiosks are...which the airlines didn't ask for, which WE are paying for through an increase in the airport fee, and which will NOT

6 hours ago, webfact said:

allow[] passengers to independently check-in and load their baggage, reducing the dependence on airport staff

 

...since every airline still needs to examine travel documents, weigh bags, etc. This is really getting tiresome.

[whitfield]

It's simple, take their phones off them for their shift.

[brianthainess]

Why not just adopt the UK way, no immigration check on leaving, airline checks PP, issue boarding pass, boarding pass scanned at gate, board plane. 

[mrfill]

And with a gigantic puff of smoke, within 24 hours, 200 new immigration officers suddenly appear...

 

Quite an intensive training course it seems....