Press Release 27 October 2021 Suvarnabhumi Airport and relevant agencies today (27 October) conducted an extensive exercise to test the airport's readiness to support the country's border re-opening policy on 1 November.

 Press Release
27 October 2021

Suvarnabhumi Airport and relevant agencies today (27 October) conducted an extensive exercise to test the airport's readiness to support the country's border re-opening policy on 1 November.

The drill was carried out based on the stringent guidelines set forth under the Covid-19 pandemic prevention standards by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH).

Mr.Kittipong Kittikachorn, General Manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport, said the successful exercise has confirmed that the airport has what it takes to serve international passengers arriving at the country's main air hub.

"We have all the Covid-19 protocols and facilities in place for full enforcement to prevent the spread of the coronavirus through our facilities in the re-opening scenario," he stated.

Starting on 1 November, international passengers will be processed through the eastern concourse C and the western side at concourses E, F and G.

Passengers disembarking from the aircraft will be screened by international disease control officers in two streams.

Some passengers will still have to be checked by the Certificate of Entry (COE) system, while the other will be checked by means of scanning a QR Code under the Thailand Pass that is a new platform to facilitate those travelling to Thailand to replace the use of the COE system in the future.

Passengers then follow the specified route, through a temperature screening station, and if the passenger temperature exceeds 37.3 degrees Celsius or meets the Patient under Investigation (PUI) criteria, the disease control checkpoint staff will bring them to MOPH protocol course.

On the other hand, those with temperatures do not exceed 37.3 degrees Celsius, they can proceed through the immigration process.

But if there was no declaration at the Customs station, passengers will be taken to a representative of the hotel, an alternative detention facility which the passengers have pre-booked at the arrival hall on the second floor of the passenger terminal.

Passengers will then board the hotel's vehicle, which has a barrier installed between the driver and the passengers in accordance with the pandemic prevention standards, to proceed to RT-PCR examination as scheduled at the hotel.

For international departure passengers, airline check-in staff will check the documents as required by the destination country before issuing the boarding pass, and then they can proceed to the normal passport inspection process.

Mr.Kittipong said that in terms of domestic departure passengers, Suvarnabhumi Airport has already enforced disease surveillance measures.

When those passengers check-in, they must submit documents as specified by the destination province.

The airline will check documents such as vaccination certificates, papers showing the results of testing for COVID-19 by RT-PCR method or Antigen Test Kit (ATK) before issuing the boarding pass and then following the routine pre-flight screening procedures.

Domestic passengers arriving at Suvarnabhumi will have their temperature checked when entering the terminal, picking up the luggage at the carousel and leaving the airport.
​
Mr. Kittipong added that before entering the terminal, people need to pass through a thermo-scan station and are required to scan the Thai Chana QR codes at the entrances which are gates 1,3,5,7 and 9.

People whose body temperature exceeds 37.3 degrees Celsius will be denied access to the terminal.

He said the airport's facilities strictly comply with the D-M-H-T-T-A health protocols in accordance with the principles of Covid-Free Setting and Universal Prevention.
By the check-in counters, Common Use Self Service (CUSS) and Common Use Bag Drop (CUBD) systems are in place to reduce contact exposure.
Social distancing rules are observed, the frequency of cleaning of luggage carts, escalators, lifts, restrooms has been increased to reduce the risk of spreading the disease.

The airport has ensured the car parking area is sufficient for demand, and shuttle bus services are available to serve key routes within Suvarnabhumi, and between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.

Meanwhile, restaurants and shops closed due to Covid-19 are gradually resuming their services from 1 November onwards.

The airside operation areas including runways, taxiways and aprons have been received regular inspections sand maintenance to ensure a safe working condition.
The airport operates two runways and aprons for 120 aircraft.

In terms of manpower readiness, 34,000 personnel working at the airport have received two Covid jabs during April and June.

They are due to complete taking the third dose by the end of October, to bring the total number of inoculation to 95% of all personnel.

"All in all, Suvarnabhumi is operational ready to be an important mechanism with the government's policy to revitalising the country's economy and tourism going forward," he noted.

Suvarnabhumi Airport expects to see flight numbers operating through its facility ramping up from 320 flights per day now to 480 starting on 1 November while passenger tally rising from 15,000 a day now to 38,000.
........................................

Special Affairs and Public Relations Department, Suvarnabhumi Airport
Phone: 0 2132 9080
Fax: 02 132 9019