Travellers arriving at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport are complaining over the long lines and wait times for taxi cabs as airport official report a significant rise in flight arrivals.
In order elevate the long lines for taxi cabs airport officials have requested more taxis to register as official airport transportation to alleviate a scarcity and the complaints about long queues at the airport’s taxi queue.
Since the beginning of October, many tourists arriving at Suvarnabhumi airport have posted photos of the enormous lines at the airport’s taxi stands.
The criticisms, however, reached a climax on Friday, at the start of the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Day long weekend, raising concerns that Bangkok’s primary international gateway isn’t prepared to welcome big numbers of travellers.
In response to the concerns, Suvarnabhumi airport authorities issued a statement claiming that the long waits were caused by an unexpected rush of out-of-town guests arriving at Suvarnabhumi airport to celebrate the long weekend in Bangkok.
They said that there just weren’t enough automobiles to serve all incoming customers because only taxis registered with the airport could pick up passengers from Suvarnabhumi’s taxi cab stands.
Furthermore, they stated that not all taxis authorized to pick up passengers at Suvarnabhumi airport were on standby at the stands and that many drivers are choosing to pick up passengers elsewhere because demand for trips from the airport has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.
As a result, airport management is urging more public taxi drivers to register with authorities in order to make up the difference.
The airport said in a statement that it would mobilize more workers to direct taxis to the airport.
It also recommended arriving passengers use alternative modes of transportation, such as the Airport Rail Link train, which connects to the BTS SkyTrain and MRT network.
Suvarnabhumi airport also has limousines, vans, and public buses, according to the statement. Inquiries about airport services should be directed to the AOT contact centre at 1722.
