Congestion outside Suvarnabhumi airport’s departure halls has become a regular occurrence as cars and taxis compete for parking spaces. This has become an expected challenge for travelers starting their journeys from Thailand’s largest airport.
For arrivals, long queues at immigration checkpoints and baggage claims have also become the norm due to broken kiosks and understaffing issues that have yet to be addressed.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently responded to tourist complaints by making an unannounced visit to Suvarnabhumi airport. As a result, he instructed authorities to streamline the necessary procedures at the airport to take 30 minutes or less for each passenger.
Following the post-pandemic tourism recovery and the surge in tourist arrivals, both international and local carriers are increasing flight frequencies to accommodate the demand. However, staffing shortages among airlines and airports worldwide have hindered this growth. Although technology adoption could alleviate aviation labor shortages, some systems have proven to be unreliable, and there is a low level of technology proficiency among users in Thailand.
Airports of Thailand (AoT) announced last year that it would raise passenger service charges at six international airports from April 1, 2024, through a new operating system called Common Use Passenger Processing Systems (Cupps).
The additional fee, embedded in ticket prices, will total 730 baht. Some airports, including Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, have already begun implementing self-service check-in kiosks and self-service bag drops as part of Cupps to reduce queues at check-in counters.
Thai AirAsia plans to adopt a biometric technology system for passenger validation, and passengers and airlines are expected to share the added operational costs.
It’s predicted that the adoption of smart airport technologies will enhance operational efficiency, coordination, and communication, but there are challenges in tech adoption in Thailand due to slow acceptance by passengers and limitations in older airport structures.
Despite these challenges, there is an industry-wide need to adapt to technology, especially considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aviation industry. Cloud technology and digital operations are making advanced IT solutions more accessible, especially to regional and budget-conscious airports, enabling them to reap the benefits of cutting-edge technologies.
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