Phuket Airport to launch automated passport gates for outbound passengers

Phuket Airport will officially launch its Automatic Border Channel system for outbound passengers tomorrow, airport director Monchai Tanod said on June 11, in a move aimed at improving efficiency and reducing waiting times.

The automated passport control system is being introduced in cooperation with Phuket Airport Immigration as the airport manages growing passenger volumes. Phuket Airport currently handles an average of 27,000-30,000 international travellers and 280-300 flights a day, even during the low tourism season.

According to Mr Monchai, passengers using the automated gates will be able to complete passport checks in less than 30 seconds, compared with about 45 seconds at conventional immigration counters.

The airport plans to install 21 automated gates in total, with 11 scheduled to enter service tomorrow. More gates will be added in phases until the full system is operational.

Only passengers with compatible electronic passports linked to immigration databases will be able to use the system. Travellers with older passports or passports from countries with limited data-sharing capabilities may still need to use standard immigration counters.

Mr Monchai said immigration procedures at Phuket Airport remain subject to government regulations and standards, and confirmed there is no policy to charge additional fees for expedited immigration processing.

Airport officials said the system is also expected to reduce the workload on immigration officers, allowing them to focus on other passenger services while helping the airport cope with continued growth in international arrivals.

Phuket Airport served more than 17.4 million passengers last year, including more than 10.8 million international travellers. The airport first conducted live testing of the automated passport control system on June 2 ahead of the official launch.