Passengers flying from Riverton International Airport will notice a very different security check from this week. The airport has opened eight automatic lanes with self-service entry gates and a new generation of 3D scanners, the first of their kind in the country. Airport managers expect average waiting times at peak hours to fall by around a third.
The remaining lanes will be converted over the winter, and Port Alden’s airport plans to follow next year.
What changes at the checkpoint
The biggest difference is what stays in your bag. The new scanners produce a detailed three-dimensional image, so laptops, tablets and liquids in containers of up to 100 milliliters no longer have to be taken out and placed in a separate tray.
Passengers scan their boarding pass at an automatic gate, which opens when the system confirms the pass is valid for a flight that day. Trays move along a powered belt and return automatically to the start of the lane.
On the old lanes, most of the delay was people unpacking and repacking. Now you put your bag in the tray as it is and walk on.
Mirela Jansen, head of security operations at Riverton International Airport
What stays the same
Passengers still walk through a body scanner, and security staff still check any bag the system flags. The limit of 100 milliliters per container for liquids has not changed, and items such as knives and large tools remain banned.
Jansen also warned that not every lane will be automatic for several months. “If you are directed to an older lane, you will still need to take your laptop out,” she said.
Tips for a smooth passage
- have your boarding pass ready on your phone or printed before you reach the gate
- empty your pockets into your jacket or bag before your turn
- wear shoes and belts that are easy to remove, in case staff ask
- arrive at least two hours before a flight during busy holiday periods
Frequent flyers interviewed on the first morning were mostly positive. “I was through in six minutes,” said business traveler Oliver Grant. “Last month the same check took half an hour.”
The transport ministry said the new equipment cost around 30 million euros and is partly funded by a passenger fee introduced last year.
Comments 2
Went through on Tuesday, really quick. Shame only a few lanes are open so far.
Finally! Unpacking the laptop and a bag of toiletries every time was the worst part of flying.