Don Mueang Airport expecting over 1 million passengers in Songkran surge

Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok is bracing for a massive increase in travellers during the 2026 Songkran festival and is deploying cutting-edge technology to manage an estimated 1.06 million passengers on over 6,551 total flights.

The airport expects to handle an average of 106,268 passengers and 656 flights per day between April 10 and 19.

The airport’s director, Wichit Kaewsaitiam, revealed that the peak travel day is expected to be April 11, with the heaviest congestion anticipated throughout the morning and again in the late afternoon.

“To ensure a smooth experience, travellers are strongly advised to arrive at the airport two to three hours before their scheduled departure,” Wichit said.

He added that “The airport is leaning heavily on automation to reduce bottlenecks.”

To streamline passenger journeys, the airport has implemented several technologies, including Common Use Self-Service (CUSS) for rapid self-check-in and Common Use Bag Drop (CUBD) for automated luggage processing.

These systems are complemented by biometric identification, to speed up passenger verification, and automated border control gates, which are available to both arriving and departing passengers with e-Passports and are aimed at significantly reducing wait times at immigration.

The airport is offering free parking at Cargo Warehouse Building 4 from April 11-15, while a 24-hour shuttle service will operate between the parking area and the passenger terminals.

To maintain safety, security teams will increase CCTV monitoring and conduct rigorous checks airside, including of runways and taxiways, to ensure compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

Meanwhile, ‘Airport Ambassadors’ will be stationed throughout the terminals to assist passengers and promote the use of the ‘SAWASDEE by AOT’ mobile app for real-time flight tracking and airport service information.

Festive photo spots have also been set up in the domestic (Terminal 2) and international (Terminal 1) departure halls to welcome Thais home and international tourists during the water festival.