Suvarnabhumi short on immigration staff

A shortage of immigration staff at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport was causing extremely long queues for foreign visitors admitted the commissioner of immigration.

The reason being, according to Immigration Bureau commander Pol Lt-Gen Chatchaval Suksomchit, is that the Immigration Bureau has limited staff numbers at Suvarnabhumi Airport’s many immigration counters.

The Immigration Bureau has received numerous complaints from irate passengers, both foreign and Thai, and as the Royal Thai Police control immigration and border posts, they are considering asking for more immigration staff from other agencies.

The extended queues have caused many passengers to miss flights when checking in less than one hour before their scheduled departure.

There isn't enough time to check-in and pass immigration within the hour and Pol Lt Gen Chatchaval said that 45 to 60 minutes should be set aside for immigration procedures alone.

Suvarnabhumi Airport is now Thailand’s main airport serving in excess of 100,000 international passengers per day - 45,000 arriving, 40,000 departing, and 15,000 in transit.

There are only 200 immigration officers on duty during each shift, with 124 counters for arriving passengers and 80 counters for departing passengers. The airport is short of about 400 immigration officers every day between the arrival and departure counters.

General Suksomchit suggested that passengers arrive at check-in at least two hours before their departure time.