Thailand will apply automatic channels for passport checks for out-bound foreign passengers at Bangkok-based Suvarnabhumi Airport from December 15 (Photo:bangkokpost.com) Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand will apply automatic channels for passport checks forout-bound foreign passengers at Bangkok-based Suvarnabhumi Airport from December 15 in order to reduce congestion at the country’s busiest airport.
Immigration Police Division 2 (international airports)commander Pol Gen Choengron Rimphadee said the new automatic channels are forpassengers carrying e-passports, and complied with standards set by theInternational Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Foreigners withordinary passports, and children and the disabled, although holdinge-passports, would still be required to go through the ordinary channels mannedby officials.
Arriving passengers will still have to bechecked by immigration officers, for security reasons, he added.
Despite the faster immigration process, the machines couldstill detect people wanted under arrest warrants, those banned from travelingabroad, and those who had overstayed their visas, he said.
Suvarnabhumi Airport started using 16 automatic channels forpassport checks for out-bound travellers from 2012, but only for Thai nationals.It takes only about 20 seconds to scan the face and fingerprints of eachpassenger. A channel manned by an immigration officer normally takes about 45seconds.
At present Suvarnabhumi airport handles 50,000-60,000out-bound passengers per day./.
