In recent years, air travel has been synonymous with strict security procedures, especially when it comes to transportation of liquids and electronic devices. While new CT scanners promised a step change, eliminating the need to separate liquids or adhere to the 100ml rule, the reality has proven more complicated.
The promises and the obstacles
In 2018, the UK government announced the introduction of advanced scanners at airports, capable of creating three-dimensional images of hand luggage and detecting explosives with greater precision. The goal was to eliminate liquid restriction rules and streamline the security process, reducing queues and waiting times. However, as the Condé Nast Travelermany UK airports have stated that would not be able to meet the June 2024 deadline for the complete installation of the equipment.
This technology, known as EDSCB (Explosive Detection Systems for Cabin Baggage)would bring considerable benefits, allowing passengers to leave their liquids and electronic devices inside their bags. But the technical and logistical challenges were underestimated. In addition to the high cost of machineswhich are described as “the size of a Ford Transit”, most airport terminals need to be reinforced to support the weight of these new scanners. Supply chain issues have also made it difficult to obtain the equipment.
Europe is no exception to the rule
Delays are not limited to the UK. The European Commission has announced that from 1 September 2024, airports in the 27 countries of the European Union will have to reintroduce older safety ruleswhich require liquids to be transported in containers of 100 ml or less. This regulation has been in force since 2006, but its repeal was planned with the arrival of the new scanners. Now, with the installation delayed, the rules will have to be temporarily reintroduced until the “technical problem” is resolved.
The reintroduction of these restrictions at European airports will therefore be a setback, especially for those airports that had already moved forward with the new technology. Those with older scanners, on the other hand, will continue to operate within the safety standards we already knewwithout major changes for passengers.
Security still at stake
While the introduction of new scanners at airports is an essential technological step towards improving security and the passenger experience, the reality is that its full implementation is far from being achieved. With high costs and logistical challenges delaying modernization, airports will have to keep the old rules in place for now.
Until the problem is solved and the technology is fully operational, passengers will have to continue to adapt to the old rules, with the hope that air travel will finally be more seamless and less bureaucratic in the near future. The road to innovation still faces significant challenges, but the promise of a simpler and more effective security process remains on the horizon.
Source: www.must.jornaldenegocios.pt
