Rise of the robots gets green light across 28 regional airports

Rise of the robots gets green light across 28 regional airports

Darun Sangchai, director-general of the Department of Airports, announced that cleaning robots and Wi-Fi for smartphones will be introduced at regional airports beginning in April. (Photo via DOA)
Darun Sangchai, director-general of the Department of Airports, announced that cleaning robots and Wi-Fi for smartphones will be introduced at regional airports beginning in April. (Photo via DOA)

The Department of Airports (DOA) will introduce cleaning robots as well as provide Wi-Fi services from April next year under plans for a technology upgrade to regional airports.

Department director-general Darun Sangchai said cleaning robots will be initially introduced to some of the 28 regional airports run by the DOA, such as in Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Krabi.

The robots will later be put into service at the other airports on a gradual basis, Mr Darun said.

The robots will be designed in the shape of the mascot for each regional airport, with the department's logo, he said, adding the procurement of the robots should not run into any problem as a budget allocation has been made available for the project.

He also said the agency will consider introducing guide robots to accompany passengers to their gates in the future.

Mr Darun also said that the department will provide free Wi-Fi services as a New Year gift for all passengers at all its regional airports from early April next year.

The free services are intended to encourage people to travel during the Songkran long holiday period, he said. Currently, free Wi-Fi services are available only at some airports such as Udon Thani, Surat Thani, Buri Ram, Narathiwat and Hua Hin.

Mr Darun went on to say the DOA will discuss with the Immigration Bureau an investment project to install automated immigration gates as well as automated boarding gates across the country.

The agencies will discuss how much money will be needed for the project and whether investment costs will be shared between them, he said.

Initially, installing these systems was expected to take five years, but this could be expedited if the budget is approved swiftly, he said.

He added the department will next year launch a new computer app for passengers and tourists.

It will enable users to access information such as flight routes and public transport details, services such as rental cars, hotels, QR-code scanning to get special discounts at merchant locations, as well as details of tourist attractions and activities, Mr Darun said.

Mr Darun said a project adviser to the DOA had recommended digital signage and display advertising along with a tracking system to analyse passengers' movements and behaviour, especially regarding their retail preferences, to allow airports to better respond to their customers' needs. This would also help boost airport income, he said.

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