Self-Screening Lanes Are the New Security Trend

Airport passenger flow is often consistent globally, with pathways strategically predetermined to maximise efficiency and lower security risks. However, there are times when passengers with connecting flights are often faced with additional security checkpoints at some airports. In contrast, they can proceed to their next flight without an extra check on others.??

??

Passengers travelling through the London Heathrow Airport terminal are led to complete another security screening even if they have only travelled from the aircraft into the secure terminal. More often than not, the reason for this secondary check lies in government policy and regulations in the region.??

??

The aviation industry is controlled by government regulation and follows complex procedures to create passenger flows, given the sensitive nature of airports. While some countries rely on security checks at origin airports, others emphasise additional security checks to ensure all arriving passengers comply with local laws and eliminate potential risks.??

??

The US is well known for its regulatory requirements for passengers flying into the country, and those taking connecting flights are also subject to a second screening. However, overcrowded and slow-moving lanes are usually a concern in hub airports, but with additional security checks during peak travel, these lanes get crowded frequently.??

??

The Department of Homeland Security is set to begin a series of self-screening lane tests at several airports, with Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas to be the first. As part of the DHS Screening at Speed Program, the test will start with passengers who are registered with TSA PreCheck.??

??

"Travelers will use passenger and carry-on screening systems at individual consoles or screening lanes themselves, reducing the number of pat-downs and bag inspections TSOs (Transportation Security Officers) need to perform and freeing their time to be reallocated to the busier aspects of screening operations," said John Fortune, manager of the Screening at Speed Program. "The feedback we've already received during testing from both mock passengers and TSOs has been incredibly positive."?

??

With the biometric passport reading system being a success at numerous airports all over the world, the self-screening lane might be an excellent complement to achieve efficient and secure passenger flows.??

??

However, it is always important to factor in time for additional security checks before travel, especially when taking connecting flights between two hub airports, as it will ensure that everything goes as scheduled.???