Don Meuang check-in nightmare ends

Three days after requiring all departing passengers to run both carry-on and checked bags through x-ray machines before checking in, AoT suspended the plan to ease long queues caused by an insufficient number of scanners.

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Passengers pack the terminal of Don Mueang airport on Monday, waiting to pass through x-ray screening for all luggage. Photos by Pattarachai Preechapanich

Don Mueang drops carry-on bag screenings amid delays

Airports of Thailand has dropped newly imposed security measures for all flights at Don Mueang airport after carry-on luggage screenings caused hours-long delays.

Three days after requiring all departing passengers to run both carry-on and checked bags through x-ray machines prior to checking in, AoT suspended the plan for domestic and international travellers at 3.30pm to ease long queues stemming from an insufficient number of scanners.

Travellers again will have only checked bags x-rayed before entering the check-in area and carry-ons will be scanned before passengers arrive at their gates, as usual.

The measures applied to passengers on both domestic and international flights leaving Don Mueang, Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said late on Monday.

He apologised for the long queues that later prompted concerned authorities to change the policy.

Queues stretched from the entrance of each check-in pier to the main entrances of the terminal.

He insisted that safety was not compromised as airport staff would be watching for suspicious luggage and have it searched and re-scanned.

He hoped the latest change would reduce the pre-boarding time to the usual one hour for domestic flights and two hours for international flights.

AoT president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn said on Monday that he asked the Department of Civil Aviation to postpone implementation of stricter security at Don Mueang for two months when a second passenger terminal opens.

AoT chairman Prasong Poontaneat said that he was shocked when photos of long queues at Don Mueang surfaced over the weekend as well as reports that passengers had to wait up to three hours.

Random bag checks will still be imposed under the new security system at Don Mueang.

He said the second terminal at Don Mueang will open in September, allowing for separation of domestic and international flights and expanding the airport's capacity from 18.5 million passengers to 30 million annually.

AoT announced the imposition of x-ray screening for all baggage before the check-in area on July 17. But with a limited number of machines, the stricter security immediately led to huge lines and more than a few frazzled nerves.

The increased security was ordered by the Department of Civil Aviation, which has been under the gun from the International Civil Aviation Organization for its safety standards and procedures.

DCA director-general Parichart Kocharat said that the measures were ordered to prepare for an upcoming ICAO audit.

Mr Nitinai said additional x-ray scanners were being procured for Don Mueang.

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