BANGKOK, THAILAND – A new generation of automated passport control gates was installed at the capital’s second-largest airport to speed up international departures and ease congestion at check-in counters.
Modernisation at Don Mueang International Airport
The busy Don Mueang International Airport upgraded its immigration areas with 31 Automated Border Control (ABC) systems to accelerate the processing of international passengers. As the city’s second most important international airport, Don Mueang had two runways and two terminals, with Terminal 1 used for international flights and Terminal 2 for domestic services.
The new ABC systems were intended to make passage through border control significantly more efficient by April 2026. The installations were described as state-of-the-art systems designed to support the work of immigration officers.
Capacity, peak periods and expansion plans
The airport had been designed to handle around 700 flights per day and served about 40 million passengers annually. For 2026, it was expected that between 600 and 650 flights per day would take off and land on peak days.
Traffic was forecast to be especially dense in the time windows from 5–7 a.m., 9–11 a.m. and 3–6 p.m. In the longer term, the site was to be developed into a point-to-point hub with a capacity of 50 million passengers a year by 2029.
Project launch and trial operations
The large-scale modernisation project began on 7 January 2026, initially focusing on the departure area of the international terminal on the third floor of Building 1. Airport operators first put the new automatic passport scanners into trial operation.
Regular 24-hour operation was scheduled to begin on 5 March 2026. As soon as an individual ABC unit was fully installed and tested, it immediately entered passenger service.
Government spokesperson’s statement
According to deputy government spokesperson Lalida Periswiwattana, testing had been under way since mid-February. During this phase, the systems could be used from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. before switching to round-the-clock operation.
All 31 units were to be fully installed across the airport and available to passengers by April 2026.
“The systems are being introduced step by step so that passengers can benefit from faster processing as soon as each gate is ready,”
said Lalida Periswiwattana, deputy government spokesperson.
How the ABC systems work and their goals
The new ABC systems were designed to complement immigration officers, speed up entry and exit procedures and significantly shorten queues. The aim was to improve the travel experience for international passengers and increase overall efficiency.
Although the automated gates did not place physical stamps in passports, all travel data was fully and legally recorded in state IT systems. The measures were also intended to support the country’s effort to position itself as a regional aviation hub and a leading global air transport gateway.
Requirements for using the automated gates
Clear criteria applied for using the automatic lanes. Travellers had to be at least 120 centimetres tall, and their hand luggage could not exceed a height of 120 centimetres.
Passports needed to have at least six months’ remaining validity. Newly issued travel documents could only be recognised by the system after 14 days.
Exceptions and data security
Pregnant travellers and passengers who required a physical entry or exit stamp in their passports were to continue using the traditional manual counters. The authorities stressed that the lack of physical stamps did not affect the legal status of recorded entries and exits.
All travel data were stored completely and in compliance with legal requirements in government IT systems.
“Every movement through the automated gates is securely documented, even without a stamp in the passport,”
said a government representative.
Construction phase and advice for travellers
During the installation phase, which ran until 5 May 2026, parts of the departure hall were temporarily cordoned off. The airport advised international passengers to check in at least three hours before departure.
To help passengers navigate altered routes and new waiting areas, the airport installed additional signage and deployed more staff. These measures were intended to minimise disruption while the systems were being put in place.
Long-term goals and contact points
Those responsible expected that the temporary restrictions would bring significant long-term benefits. As part of a wider development plan, Don Mueang was to be expanded into a point-to-point hub with a capacity of 50 million passengers annually by 2029.
Passengers needing assistance or further information could contact the Don Mueang Airport information centre around the clock on 0 2535 1192 or the AOT Contact Centre on 1722. The project underlined the country’s ambition to boost capacity and efficiency and to offer seamless international connections for millions of travellers.
Strategic importance for the aviation sector
With the ABC rollout, the country signalled its intention to strengthen its role as a regional air transport hub. The upgrades at Don Mueang were part of a broader push to develop one of the leading global aviation gateways.
The measures aimed to increase capacity and improve the flow of international traffic. Authorities expected the new systems to help handle rising passenger numbers while maintaining security and service standards.