Pol Lt Gen Panumas Boonyalaksam, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, instructed Pol Maj Gen Kathathorn Khamthiang, Commander of Immigration Division 2, to visit the airport to assess the situation, gather facts and identify practical solutions after social media reports raised concerns over long queues and possible “misunderstandings” about officers’ work.
Pol Maj Gen Kathathorn on Wednesday (Apr 15) led a team to the Phuket Airport, where he held a joint meeting with airport authorities, including Phuket Airport General Manager Monchai Tanode. The meeting, held at the Immigration Checkpoint Operations Centre, focused on analysing the causes of congestion and agreeing on concrete steps to improve passenger flow.
Pol Maj Gen Kathathorn said a systematic plan had already been put in place to address potential system malfunctions, ensuring all checkpoints are prepared to handle disruptions, minimise passenger impact and maintain security standards while facilitating international travel.
At the operational level, Phuket Airport Immigration, under Acting Superintendent Pol Col Rasarin Theerapatthanakool, has implemented several immediate measures. These include deploying additional officers on staggered shifts to cope with peak passenger volumes, particularly during the Songkran holiday period, and coordinating with airlines to better manage check-in times in order to reduce crowding.
Authorities are also preparing for a longer-term upgrade, with the Immigration Bureau working alongside Airports of Thailand Plc to install an Automatic Border Control (ABC) system aimed at speeding up passport processing and reducing waiting times.
Installation is scheduled to take place in the departure immigration area from Apr 22 to May 30, during which some service areas may be temporarily affected, said a report by the Immigration Bureau.
Passengers are being advised to allow extra time when travelling to the airport during this period.
The move follows a recent incident that saw long queues form at the airport during a peak departure period, attributed by Immigration Division 2 to a temporary system malfunction combined with high passenger volume.
In that incident, officials denied claims that travellers were charged B200 each for access to special “fast-track lanes”.
The Immigration Bureau in its report reiterated its commitment to improving service standards, emphasising efficiency, transparency and fairness while maintaining national security, in a bid to strengthen confidence among both Thai and international travellers.