On July 27, Vu Vu, an administrator of a Thailand travel community with nearly 500,000 members, shared photos of long queues at the airport’s immigration checkpoint, saying it took him nearly an hour to complete procedures.
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Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand is packed with passengers on July 27, 2026. Photo by Vu Vu |
Other Vietnamese travelers describe similar experiences.
One said the airport was so crowded that passengers overflowed into nearby corridors because the designated queuing area was full.
Another, who visited in mid-July, said her group spent more than two hours clearing immigration after landing at the airport in the afternoon.
Similar complaints have surfaced on Thai social media, with some foreign travelers saying they spent three to four hours waiting to clear immigration.
While many voiced frustration over the delays, others jokingly suggested the airport deserved recognition for having among the world’s longest immigration queues.
Officials from the Ministries of Tourism and Sports and Transport, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Immigration Bureau, Airports of Thailand, and other agencies visited the airport on July 16 to assess the situation and identify bottlenecks, The Thaiger reported.
They agreed to strengthen coordination by integrating real-time flight and passenger data, increasing staff during peak travel periods, and expanding the use of biometric technology at immigration checkpoints.
In early September, authorities will consider extending access to automated passport gates to travelers from more countries.
Airport officials estimate the move could cut immigration congestion by more than half.
According to Airports of Thailand, Suvarnabhumi handles around 1,050 flights daily, with traffic rising during major holiday periods such as Songkran. The busiest arrival periods are typically 9-11 a.m. and 4-7 p.m., Bangkok Post reported.
Passenger traffic is forecast to continue growing, with the airport expected to serve about 65 million travelers in 2026, 26% more than last year.
The number is projected to rise to 73 million by 2029.