BOURNEMOUTH Airport is to get new security measures put in place which could see larger bottles of liquids taken on board flights.
New security screening technology will be installed at the airport in Hurn “in two or three years” when passenger usage hits a target set by the government.
Large airports such as Heathrow or Manchester Airport have been given until June 2024 to install the new screens, which are CT scanners that give a 3D image of what is inside passengers’ bags.
Once installed, Bournemouth Airport passengers will be able to carry liquids in containers holding up to two litres in what will be the biggest relaxation of aviation security regulations in decades.
A spokesman for Bournemouth Airport said: “We will be installing new security screening technology in line with the guidelines set by both the Civil Aviation Authority and Department for Transport.
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“The government has given larger airports until June 2024 to install new screening equipment. For smaller airports like Bournemouth the timing is linked to the number of passengers using the airport and we expect to hit the threshold in two or three years from now.
“Passenger safety remains everyone's top priority and we continually review our procedures to ensure that first class standards are maintained throughout the security screening process.
“We are also proud to have some of the shortest security queue times in the UK and last year received a five-star passenger satisfaction rating for our security operation and were ranked in the top five UK airports overall for customer service.”
According to Transport Secretary Mark Harper, CT scanners would benefit passengers by “reducing queuing times, improving the passenger experience and most importantly detecting potential threats”.
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Christopher Snelling, policy director at industry body the Airport Operators Association, said: “This investment in next generation security by the UK’s airport operators will provide a great step forward for UK air travel, matching the best in class around the world.
“It will make the journey through the UK’s airports easier and air travel itself more pleasant.”
CT scanners are already being used at overseas airports such as Schiphol in Amsterdam and several in the US.
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