The manager said the fact passengers had to queue for more than four hours last Friday evening was down to the fact delayed flights had arrived at the same time as scheduled ones. He explained that immigration officers then had to process passengers from 25 flights.
For its part, the Immigration Bureau said unmanned booths at Don Mueang were because a recruitment campaign to hire more officers had failed. Airports of Thailand says it will expand international arrivals at Don Mueang Airport so it can handle 1,800 passengers an hour, but more officers will still be needed to man the desks.
12GO ASIA notes that departing from Don Mueang Airport is also taking a little longer at present. For this reason, passengers with reservations for flights departing from the airport should allow themselves a little extra time to clear immigration.
Don Mueang Airport blames long immigration queues on lack of staff
News in Asia
The manager of Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport has blamed ever growing queues at immigration on a lack of staff. Responding to massive online criticism of the queues at the city’s second airport, Suthirawat Suwannawat said immigration could only handle a maximum of 1,000 arriving passengers an hour.