New airport baggage scanners to be operational by spring
HOLD luggage will continue to be hand searched at random at the airport until the first of the new baggage scanners is commissioned in the spring, Guernsey Ports has confirmed.
Preparatory work has now started on the new £12m. hold baggage system, which processes passengers’ baggage from the check-in desk to its loading onto the aircraft.
The first phase of the project will include the replacement of existing X-ray scanners with the latest 3D technology.
Head of passenger operations and aviation security at Guernsey Ports, Steve Langlois, said they were pleased to see investment being made in airport infrastructure.
‘As technology and standards improve, we want to ensure Guernsey’s ports are equipped with the latest and most resilient technology,’ he said.
‘Passengers may notice construction work taking place within the airport in the coming weeks.
‘We would like to apologise for any disruption caused by the project.
‘Until the new system is in place, the airport is required by its regulators to continue random hand-searches of hold baggage.
‘We are asking travellers who plan to check-in any hold baggage items to allow increased time at the airport in the event that their luggage is randomly selected.
‘We thank all passengers for their understanding while we complete this project, which will result in an improved customer experience.’
The temporary measures are expected to be in place until spring, when the first of the new scanners will be commissioned.
Hand searching of hold bags began in September, with a certain number of passengers having to go to one side after checking in and have their luggage searched in the departure hall.
The time-consuming job did cause some delays to flights, especially when the Isle of Man air bridge was operating.
However, low passenger numbers in recent months seem to have reduced the issue.
The most recent airport passenger numbers – from December – saw fewer than 6,000 people travelling through the airport, which is a 90% drop on the same period last year.
It was first flagged up in 2015 that the new scanning equipment would be required to comply with the regulator’s rules.
But the delays meant that the money for the work was only requested in early 2020 and the licence was withdrawn in September leading to the current hand searching.
