BANGKOK, 26 December 2013 – Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Immigration Police are readying its officials to accommodate the passenger influx during the year-end travel period, during which 156,000 passengers are expected per day at the country’s main airport.
Police Lieutenant General Pharnu Kerdlarpphon (ภาณุ เกิดลาภผล), commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, Suvarnabhumi Airport director Rawiwan Nettrakhawetssana, and representatives from Thai Airways International Plc, Suvarnabhumi Airport police and Tourist Police oversee the deployment of personnel for the peak period.
According to Ms. Rawiwan, there will be 546 additional flights on top of normal flights at Suvarnabhumi between the period of December 25-January 5. On average, 156,000 passengers, 128,000 (82%) of whom foreigners, are expected to use the airport each day during this period. In order to ensure hassle-free service and safety for passengers, all related agencies have arranged extra staff to accommodate the holiday travel period.
Ms. Rawiwan revealed that an Airport Operation Center or AOPC will also be set up at Suvarnabhumi Airport to coordinate work between various agencies that will speedily handle any problems that occur at the airport. The center, situated behind Row ‘R’ on the Departure Hall, on the 4th floor of the passenger terminal, will be manned around-the-clock by personnel from the agencies involved.
Ms. Rawiwan cautioned that traffic may become congested because as many as 156,000 passengers will be traveling to and from Suvarnabhumi Airport during the said period, a fact that might be compounded by the demonstrations at several spots in Bangkok. Therefore, passengers are urged to leave their homes 4 hours before their flights, or use the Airport Rail Link. An addition 60 ‘Airport Ambassadors’ will be sent to help passengers with filling out forms at Immigration, to reduce waiting time at passport control.
For more information, contact Suvarnabhumi Airport’s 24-hour call center at 1722.
