The AoT project called for 10 taxi-reservations kiosks to be installed and allocated a budget of THB23 million. The booths are close to two of the principal exit doors at Suvarnabhumi’s Arrivals hall.
The booths will work on a computerised booking system. Passengers will go to one of the booths and choose their destination and size of vehicle required. They will then receive a printed confirmation and directions to where the taxi is waiting.
A manual system of allocating taxis has been in operation since the airport opened in 2006. Under this system, taxi-dispatchers greet passengers at the queue and write down where they want to go. The dispatcher then allocates passengers to a particular driver.
There have been allegations this system is open to abuse as drivers are said to ensure they get lucrative long-distance trips by paying a fee. Passengers have long complained it is difficult to get taxis to destinations fairly close to Suvarnabhumi.
The decision to computerise Suvarnabhumi’s taxi-queue system was taken after the Thai military coup d’état in May. For a time after the coup, soldiers managed the taxi-queues at the airport to ensure there were no illicit payments and passengers were dealt with on a first-come-first-served basis.
Suvarnabhumi Airport taxi booths ready for action
News in Asia
Thai airport officials say taxi-booths at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport are ready for use. An unnamed Airports of Thailand (AoT) spokesperson told media reporters the booths and queue management system have been tested and are ready for operations.