Dubai, UAE - 11 Sep 2019 - As part of Krabi Airport’s development to become a regional aviation center under Thailand’s Department of Airports’ four-year strategic plan, the airport announced it will be rolling out world-class passenger technology, from global IT provider SITA. The systems include AirportConnect® Open, SITA’s common-use passenger processing (CUPPS) platform, along with self-service check-in kiosks at both domestic and international terminals. 

Attaporn Nuang-udom, Airport Director, Krabi International Airport, said: “The Krabi province has a geographical advantage as it is situated between the spectacular Andaman and Gulf of Thailand coasts. With abundant natural resources and tourist attractions of natural beauty, Krabi has gained increasing popularity as a tourist destination. Last year, Krabi saw more than four million visitors from various countries including China, Singapore, Malaysia, the U.K., Russia, and South Korea, and over 30,000 flights departed from Krabi Airport.”

He added, “This investment in common-use infrastructure provides greater flexibility to international airlines operating from Krabi Airport and optimizes terminal facilities while improving the passenger experience at the airport. This strategic move is also aligned with our goal to uplift the image of the airport, upgrade its Airport Service Quality (ASQ) rating to international standards and keep abreast with new technology and future trends.”

Sumesh Patel, SITA President, Asia Pacific, said: “We are pleased to work with Krabi Airport and Samart Telcoms to bring the benefits of common-use technology, which will enhance the experience for both passengers and airlines. We look forward to continuing our strategic partnership to future-proof Krabi Airport, as it grows and expands to become a regional aviation center over the new few years.”

Further development plans for Krabi Airport include the construction of Terminal 3 and the renovation of Terminals 1 and 2 to increase the capacity from 1,500 passengers per hour to 3,000 passengers per hour. Construction and expansion of aircraft parking bays are also in the plan to accommodate 40 aircraft at the same time. In addition, SITA’s world-class passenger technology will be rolled out across all three terminals. Scheduled to be completed in 2022, Krabi Airport is well-placed to become the ideal regional aviation center connecting Thailand to the rest of the world. 

The project to contract the CUPPS service and maintenance at Krabi Airport is undertaken by Samart Comtech Co. Ltd. in collaboration with global IT provider SITA. Samart Telcom has provided services to Suvarnabhumi International Airport since 2006. Since then, the services have been expanded to cover Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Don Muang airports, and the latest to join the list is Krabi Airport.