Thailand to implement facial recognition in six airports; boarding passes not needed anymore
Thailand is implementing an automated biometric system using facial recognition in six airports, allowing passengers to show their physical ID only once and skipping the need to show boarding passes.
Local outlets The Bangkok Post and The Nation, citing Airports of Thailand (AOT) director Kirati Kitmanawat, reported that the system will be available to domestic passengers on Nov. 1 and international passengers on Dec. 1.
The six Thai airports that will use the system are Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Mae Fah Luang/Chiang Rai International Airport, Phuket International Airport, and Hat Yai International Airport.
To use the system, passengers will be required to allow access to their identification information when checking in at the counter or self-service check-in at the airports.
The system will then collect their biometric information and travel itineraries electronically, allowing them to go from the baggage drop to the boarding gate without showing passports and boarding passes. Each registration is for only one journey.
Kitmanawat said the biometric system will reduce the time that travelers spend on personal identity verification, letting them walk around, shop, or eat.
“AOT is committed to modernizing facilities to meet passengers’ demand and offer impressive travel experiences,” he said, adding that implementing a biometric system is part of their vision to become a world-class airport operator.
AOT data showed that the number of passengers at the six Thai airports between October 2023 and September 2024 reached 11.29 million, rising to nearly 20% year on year. That included 72.67 million international passengers and 46.62 million domestic passengers.
International passengers mostly came from China, India, South Korea, Russia, and Japan.
There were also 732,690 flights across the six airports, up 14.5% year on year, comprising 416,190 international flights and 316,500 domestic flights.
Kitmanawat is expecting the passenger and flight numbers to increase next year.