Glasgow Airport has become the first airport in Scotland to introduce automated boarding pass scanners. According to the airport this will significantly increase the speed at which passengers can pass through its security hall.
The scanners have been installed as part of some £21 million spent over the past two years on capital projects. The airport outside Paisley in June 2007 saw a car ram-raided into the main terminal.
Six self-service scanners are now in place in the main security hall. The technology, which is also in use at London City and Gatwick Airports, will allow passengers to scan their boarding passes before proceeding to the security screening area.
Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: “Our focus in recent years has been on improving our customers’ journey through the terminal building and not only will this technology further enhance our compliance with strict industry security regulations, it will significantly reduce the amount of time passengers spend in the security hall, particularly during peak times.
“In terms of queue times, we are one of the best performing airports in the UK but that hasn’t prevented us from wanting to make further improvements. The introduction of the new scanners is just one of a number of measures we have recently implemented and it comes at a time when more and more people are choosing to fly from Glasgow Airport.”
The SNP Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism Fergus Ewing said: “Glasgow Airport is one of Scotland’s busiest airports, carrying approximately seven million passengers to 90 destinations each year. The airport makes a substantial contribution to Scotland’s economy, providing a vital service for leisure and business travellers and supporting 7,300 jobs.
“Over the past two years, BAA has invested more than £21 million in improving the passenger experience for the estimated 20,000 passengers that pass through Glasgow Airport each day. This substantial investment is testament to the airport’s ambitious plans for growths and the installation of these new barriers will help provide a swifter service for those travelling to and from one of Scotland’s best known cities.”
Glasgow Airport meanwhile introduced non-invasive body scanning technology in response to new regulations set out by the Department for Transport (DfT).
The scanner can detect a range of threats to security in a matter of seconds the airport says; it’s used alongside existing security screening.
Passengers will be randomly selected for scanning or on activation of the normal security checks. They will then pass through the scanner which will produce a generic, mannequin-style image which will highlight those areas where any potentially dangerous items may be concealed.
The airport stresses that the scanner cannot store, print, transmit or save the image, which is automatically deleted after it is cleared by a security officer. The scanner has also been deemed safe by the UK Government whose health and safety regulators concluded that having a body scan does not pose any risk to health.
Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: “Airport security is of paramount importance and we are committed to ensuring the safety of the millions of passengers who use Glasgow Airport every year. The introduction of the body scanner is in direct response to new rules set out by the Department for Transport (DfT) relating to the screening of passengers and it will be fully operational as of 1 September.
“The technology employed by the body scanner is designed in such a way that it maintains the security of the airport whilst also maintaining the privacy of the passenger and we have already engaged with representatives of local community groups to address any concerns they may have. We will also be providing passengers with leaflets containing information on the scanner and the reasons behind its introduction.”
