Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand's gateway aviation hub, is enhancing its passenger and baggage security under an Automatic Return Tray System (ARTS).
The ARTS will speed up passenger baggage screening as airport staff will not have to collect used baggage trays and put them back in the new queue once again.
The Airports of Thailand said this will result in not only more convenience for staff members, but faster services for passengers. It will also reduce overcrowding at checkpoints.
The installation would prompt the closure of some screening points in the international departure terminal as follows:
Zone 3 screening points on the west side of the passenger terminal will be closed from 12am on March 1 to 12am on March 29.
Zone 3 screening points in the terminal's east side will be closed from from 12am on March 30 to 12am on April 26.
Zone 2 screening points on the west side will be closed from 12am on April 27 to 12am on May 24.
Zone 2 screening points on the east side will be closed from 12am on May 25 to 12am on June 2.
Zone 1 screening points will be closed from 12am on June 22 to 12am on July 12.
All the dates and times for the closure -- to enable the ARTS installation -- are subject to change at the airport's discretion. All checkpoints will be put back into service upon completion of the ARTS installation. However, during the suspension of services at the checkpoints in Zone 3 and Zone 2, more checkpoints will be opened in Zone 1 to serve airport passengers.
Additional airport staff will be on hand to help with advising passengers and with arranging queues to ensure speedy and convenient services. Upon completion, the ARTS will double passenger handling capacity to 6,650 people per hour from 3,300 previously.
The ARTS system forms part of Suvarnabhumi Airport's upgrade plan to make it facilities more efficient, safe and passenger-friendly while on its path to becoming a fully digital airport and one of the world's best aviation hubs, the Airports of Thailand said.
Nevertheless, Suvarnabhumi apologised for any inconvenience caused and asks passengers on international flights to get to the airport three hours before their scheduled departure, especially during 7pm-9pm. For more information, contact the AOT Contact Centre, telephone 1722, around the clock.