The Guidelines of Airport Services for Muslim Passengers

Main Article Content

Arnuwat Mahamat
Nantawan Intachat
Waraporn Temkaew

Abstract

The research aimed to provide the guidelines of airport services for Muslim passengers. The objectives of research were (1) To study the conditions of serviced-problems in the airports (2) To suggest the airport’s services guidelines for Muslim passengers. The research is a qualitative research which is an In-depth Interview from 6 key informants who are proficient in airport management and proficient in conducting services to Thai’s Muslim pilgrims. The research methodology, analysis the data by classify and grouping information, then present as a descriptive method.


The results of the research showed (1) the conditions of serviced-problems for Muslim passengers in airports of Thailand, which are 1) Facilitation, consist with, few numbers of washrooms, washroom should be manned and cleaned according to gender, prayer room is small and mostly located at the landside area, few check-in counters operating during Hajj and Umrah flights, no signpost in local language, few halal foods in service, and no Muslim passenger’s information center. 2) The infrastructures for a service’s area, consist with, a limit space, no precaution to limit people entering airport. 3) Security system, body check on passengers not conduct by same gender with passengers. No dedicated room provides when conducting thorough body check on females. 4) Information of threat, terrorism and political crisis which affect to a safety of airport and flight.


(2) The guidelines, airport services for Muslim passengers, which are, 1) Facilities development as Muslim’s passenger basic characteristics; a Muslim Friendly-Washroom, segregated between dry and wet ablution area, ablution facilities should be accordant with passengers, prayer room should be located at safe, comfortable area, as well as service at airside area and support Halal products. 2) Muslim passenger’s information center; provide information in multiple languages, and in local language. 3) Special flight service for Muslim passengers during Hajj period; provides an assemble hall, increase check-in counter, provide segregated building for service. 4) Providing security for Muslim passengers; body search check on passengers should be conducted by same gender, and dedicated room through body check on females.

Article Details

How to Cite
Mahamat, A., Intachat, N., & Temkaew, W. (2021). The Guidelines of Airport Services for Muslim Passengers. Connexion: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 10(2), 36–50. Retrieved from https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/MFUconnexion/article/view/253662
Section
Research article

References

Chaipetch, C. (2003) Cultural and social structure of Thai Muslims: A case study for Pattani province (โครงสร้างสังคมวัฒนธรรมไทยมุสลิม: ศึกษาเฉพาะกรณีจังหวัดปัตตานี), Master’s thesis, National Institute of Development Administration, Bangkok. (in Thai)

Chantrick, P. (2018) The management of airport and land side of future for the advantage in competition (การจัดการสนามบินและเขตนอกการบินแห่งอนาคตเพื่อความได้เปรียบในการแข่งขัน), Bangkok: Thailand National Defence College (TNDC), National Defence College Course, Class 60, National Defence Studies Institute, Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, Ministry of Defence. (in Thai)

Harum, A. A. B., Halim, S. N. A., Jamaludin, M. A., & Muflih, B. K. (2018) Exploring the elements of Muslim-friendly airlines service, J Halal Ind Serv., vol. 1, no. 1, a0000015.

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). (2013) The Convention on International Civil Aviation: Annexes 1 to 18, Available: https://www.icao.int/safety/airnavigation/nationalitymarks/annexes_booklet_en.pdf [22 March 2017]

MGR Online. (2018) The Mastercard-crecent rating global Muslim travel index (GMTI 2018) mentioned Thailand is ranking no. 2 of (Non-OIC) (ผลการสำรวจดัชนีการท่องเที่ยวของชาวมุสลิมทั่วโลกประจำปี 2561 จากมาสเตอร์การ์ด ระบุประเทศไทยติดอันดับที่ 2 ของกลุ่มประเทศที่ไม่ใช่มุสลิม), Available: https://mgronline.com/business/detail/9610000045543 [8 May 2018] (in Thai)

Mokhtar, A. (2010) Architectural design standards for Muslims prayer facilities in airports, International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 205-212.

Post Today. (2017) End of this century, Islam will be the biggest numbers believers in the world (ปลายศตวรรษนี้อิสลามจะกลายเป็นศาสนาที่มีผู้นับถือมากที่สุดในโลก), Available: https://posttoday.com/world/485489 [16 March 2017] (in Thai)

Puacharoen, P., & Sucher, W. (2019) Facility management in regional secondary airport in Thailand (การจัดการสิ่งอำนวยความสะดวกของท่าอากาศยานรองในภูมิภาคของไทย), The Journal of Social Communication Innovation, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 46-54. (in Thai)

Sailan, R., Rahman, A., Rahim, A., & Baru, P. A. (2018) A Shariah-Compliant airport framework from the perspective of passengers at KL International Airport, Journal of Advanced Research in Social and Behavioural Sciences, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 9-24.

Thairath Online. (2015) TOT, got the suggestions from Sheikhul Islam of organized the special place for Muslim for special event (ทอท. รับข้อเสนอ ‘จุฬาราชมนตรี’ จัดสถานที่ปฏิบัติกิจชาวมุสลิม), Available: https://thairath.co.th/content/503229 [5 June 2018] (in Thai)