Hong Kong Airport is set to enhance passengers’ airport experience with 50 state-of-the-art smart security screening channels and 32 full-body scanners scheduled to go live over the next two years. The HK$800 million (US$102 million) upgrade will mean travellers will no longer need to remove electronic devices or liquids from their carry-on bags when passing through security at Hong Kong Airport – a travel hassle most passengers dread. The renovation is set to take shape in multiple phases over the next two years.
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“Hong Kong will be the first airport in the world to fully implement a smart security screening system,” Steven Yiu Siu-chun, executive director of airport operations at Hong Kong International Airport Authority, said in a report by the South China Morning Post. “We expect 98 percent of passengers to complete security screening within four and a half minutes,” he added.
Hong Kong airport security tightens: No need to remove liquids and gadgets from carry-on luggage
Hong Kong airport’s security checkpoint has 35 lanes, handling 240 passengers per hour per lane. With the upgrade, the number of lanes will be reduced to 28, increasing capacity per lane to 360 passengers per hour.
Key provisions of the smart upgrade include automated baggage handling trays that can accommodate up to three people at a time, and new computed tomography (CT) X-ray machines to replace existing scanners. Screening time will be reduced from 15 to 10 seconds, and these machines will create a three-dimensional image of carry-on baggage for detailed analysis. Liquids and electronic devices will no longer need to be presented separately, but liquids over 100ml are likely to remain on the banned items list.
New full-body scanners will replace manual checks and also minimise contact between passengers and security staff.
Jacob Chan Tak Keun, executive director of Aviation Security Company Ltd, which manages the airport’s security services, said about 3,100 staff have been trained on how to use the new security system, which has made it easier to schedule personnel.
(Feature image credit: Phuong D. Nguyen/Shutterstock)
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Notes:
The information in this article is accurate as of the publication date.
