Some airports in the UK have been granted extensions to the June 2024 deadline for installing new security technology. However, there will be serious financial penalties for airports that fail to meet the new deadlines. The new scanners were first announced in 2018 and are able to detect prohibited items with greater accuracy, making security processes more efficient and allowing passengers to keep items in their hand luggage.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has granted extensions to some airports that need more time to upgrade their security checkpoints due to challenges such as the slow recovery of the global supply chain from the pandemic. Airports are facing significant construction work to install the new equipment, including reinforcing floors and building entirely new screening halls. Passengers should still check security requirements for liquids and large electronic items before traveling.
The responsibility lies with individual airports to install the new technology, and the government is exploring ways to introduce financial penalties for airports that miss the deadlines under the Aviation Security Act. In other news, London City Airport (LCY) has successfully deployed next-generation security scanners, allowing all travelers to pass through security without removing laptops and liquids from their hand luggage.
