Bangkok International Airport to speed up visa service

[buksida]

Suvarnabhumi Airport hopes to see great improvement in immigration checks, baggage claims and internet service soon to cope with the increasing passenger load next year, airport director Somchai Sawasdeepon said today.

The international airport will have 180 less flights or 10 million less passengers each day after budget airline Thai AirAsia relocates to Don Mueang airport on Monday.

Mr Somchai said 250 more immigration officials will be on duty at Suvarnabhumi airport to accelerate visa inspections, and reduce the process from 50 minutes per passenger to 20 minutes.

Passengers will find it more convenient with the visa checking areas three times larger while baggage claims must be finished within 30 minutes after a flight lands, with the first baggage delivered to a carousel in 20 minutes, Mr Somchai said, adding that a 15-30 minute free wi-fi service will also be available.

Suvarnabhumi airport served 48.32 million passengers between Oct 2011 and August this year, a 9.65 per cent increase year-on-year. It is estimated that the total number will be 52.6 million passengers, or 301,477 flight, at the end of this fiscal year on Sunday Sept 30. It predicted an 8-9 per cent growth next year with a major increase in passengers from China, Malaysia and India.

Airports of Thailand (AoT) has planned a second-phase development project of Suvarnabhumi with an investment of Bt65 billion to cope with 60 million passengers by 2017.

Source: MCOT

[Nereus]

The international airport will have 180 less flights or 10 million less passengers each day after budget airline Thai AirAsia relocates to Don Mueang airport on Monday.

Better keep away from both airports if that is the case!

[Terry]

Shame on you Nereus
Did you not know that Thai Air Asia has a fleet of 20,000 A380s

[migrant]

The international airport will have 180 less flights or 10 million less passengers each day after budget airline Thai AirAsia relocates to Don Mueang airport on Monday.

No wonder it's a budget airlines if they pack in that many passengers per flight

[Frank Hovis]

Ferries, Railways and now Airports - I think I see a niche market for calculators that give the right answer, but then how could you cream off billions of baht if the figures were right in the first place?

I only hope I'm not one of the 10 million disappearing passengers - Welcome to Cambodia 1975.

[pharvey]

Maths aside - what happens with immigration at DM airport? I was thinking of trying Air Asia this time as they are now running a direct flight from Chongqing (China), and are a damn site cheaper than the Thai Air flight (from Kunming) that we generally take.

[PeteC]

Maths aside - what happens with immigration at DM airport? I was thinking of trying Air Asia this time as they are now running a direct flight from Chongqing (China), and are a damn site cheaper than the Thai Air flight (from Kunming) that we generally take.

Read this Pharvey. I don't think you'll have any problems on the inbound either. Immigration like DM as many of them still live nearby from the days when they originally worked there. I'm sure many have requested to be assigned there again. Pete

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/busines ... 91480.html

[Dr Mike]

I lived in Shanghai before I came to Thailand; I revisited the city recently. In the area of transportation there are amazing parallels between the cities. Hong Qiao Airport was the old airport close to the city. It was inadequate and so they built new huge International Airport in Pudong far away from the city. The old airport was scheduled for closure but like Don Muang it continued to be used for freight, then charters, then low cast carriers and finally it was rebuilt and is now the main airport for domestic and short International flights to Korea, Taiwan and Japan.
What is amazing is that it has been developed as the transport hub of the city. Not one, but two subway lines run into the terminal and connects with the 12 line subway lines, which can take you to every part of the city.  City busses are available right outside the terminal. Additionally China has built a wonderful high-speed train network and the Shanghai HS train station is combined into the facility at HQ. So that you can fly in, choose the subway or bus to the city or the train to other cities--a fully integrated transport hub.

Planners from Bangkok could learn a lot by going to Shanghai and studying their approach.

[PeteC]

[Lung Per]

Do pigs fly???

[bonnielass]

For a relatively new airport, Suvarnabhumi is pretty disappointing with regard to services and restaurants. The last twice I have been through there the free WiFi has been "down". Pretty pathetic!

There is not one decent restaurant in the whole airport. Just because I can't afford to fly business class, doesn't mean I want to eat in some grubby, fast food joint.
Go to Dubai, KL, Heathrow or any of the major airports, you will find decent restaurants, serving good food in a pleasant environment as you while away the hours between flights. Yes, these places cost a few bucks more, but at least you have a choice!

There used to be a great restaurant in the old DM airport, serving some first class Thai food. The duck offering was a banquet in itself.

[DSB]

Arrived at Swampy last night, plenty of trainees at immigration, and no queues!