Shannon Airport has expanded its airport security team ahead of the summer holiday season, as part of its commitment to providing a seamless passenger experience.
Nine new recruits have received their official certification after completing an intensive aviation security training programme.
The new Airport Screening Unit (ASU) officers have undergone training which provides certification to both European and United States TSA (Transport Security Administration) standards and regulations.
The comprehensive training programme covered all aspects of the role, including how to operate the airport’s multimillion euro state-of-the-art 3D x-ray screening system.
Shannon became the first state airport to introduce this technology in 2021, and it has considerably enhanced the passenger experience, having halved the time spent going through airport security screening.
The new recruits hail from Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and as far away as India, and come from a diverse variety of previous backgrounds including retail, hospitality, social care, the National Ambulance Service and the TV & Film industry.
Pat O’Brien, Chief Officer, Airport Police Fire Service and Security at Shannon Airport said: “I would like to congratulate our newly trained ASU officers and also thank their instructors Leona McGuigan and Katie Duggan Hastings, who led the training assisted by their colleagues.”
“The new recruits displayed tremendous levels of commitment and professionalism throughout the training process, and we are delighted to officially welcome them to the team here at Shannon Airport ahead of the busy summer travel season”.
“They will work in roles across the security unit, from greeting passengers and checking boarding cards, to analysing x-rays of baggage and guiding passengers as they begin to go through the security process. They will also work in cooperation with our colleagues from US Pre-Clearance to implement our combined EU/TSA check point system”.
“We remain committed to ensuring a safe, seamless and efficient passenger experience and this additional capacity in our security team will ensure that we can continue to make the travel process through Shannon Airport as seamless as possible for our customers.”
The training process incorporates both classroom based and practical learning, followed by final examinations and certification by the Irish Aviation Authority.
ASU training covers a wide range of areas including screening of passengers and staff, hand search of cabin baggage and of the person, screening of vehicles, identifying explosives and prohibited items, access control, evacuation procedures, screening of inflight and airport supplies, as well as customer service, manual handling, reduced mobility and familiarisation training in the airport’s special needs programme.
