AoT Upgrades Aim to Streamline Passenger Experience
The Airports of Thailand (AoT) is enhancing biometric identification systems at six key airports to reduce service times and improve efficiency.
AoT Director Kerati Kijmanawat announced on Wednesday that the upgraded systems are operational at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai, and Hat Yai airports. Starting January 15, the systems will accommodate ID cards without expiration dates, issued to individuals aged 70 and above, as well as those with English names exceeding 20 characters.
Mr. Kerati added that additional technologies will be integrated to optimize service quality.
During the New Year holiday from December 27 to January 2, Suvarnabhumi airport handled 1.4 million passengers, a 16.1% rise from the same period last year, with 7,707 flights marking a 14.3% increase. Similarly, Don Mueang airport saw 758,929 passengers, up 27%, and 4,914 flights, a 19.2% jump.
Phuket airport experienced a 20.4% surge in passenger numbers to 437,411, while Chiang Mai airport reported 233,769 passengers, a 19.7% increase. Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai and Hat Yai airports also showed growth in both passenger numbers and flights.
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit reported that AoT airports served 2.97 million passengers during the holiday, a 19.7% increase from last year. Of these, 1.84 million were international travelers, up 23.8%, while domestic passengers totaled 1.13 million, a 13.5% rise.
Despite the surge in traffic, operations ran smoothly across all airports, with Suvarnabhumi airport achieving average processing times of 22 minutes for international arrivals and 28 minutes for departures. Domestic arrivals averaged 12 minutes, and departures took 16 minutes.
