A new checkpoint concept, which could halve the time spent in security by millions of passengers at airports worldwide, is being trialled at Shannon Airport, which is the first airport in the world to trial the new pre-clearance checkpoint developed as part of the EU funded XP-DITE project. The trial will run from now for a 10-week period.
The new approach being pioneered at Shannon combines the European and US Pre-clearance checkpoints, replacing the two separate checkpoints which are used at present with just one. The Shannon trial will show how a checkpoint can be designed to comply with two different sets of regulations (EU and the US TSA systems).
This combined checkpoint is the first of its kind in the world and passengers flying to the USA will no longer have to queue up twice for separate security checks.
Niall Maloney, Airport Operations Director, said: “Shannon Airport is delighted to have been selected to trial this new state-of-the-art technology. Passenger security is of paramount importance to us and being able to trial a new system that combines the highest level of security screening together with a customer focused operation is a win-win. The elimination of the additional security measures in the US Pre-clearance facility in particular is a significant advancement in improving both our passengers’ and customer airlines’ experience.
“We have literally just started trialling the new checkpoint and already we are getting positive feedback from our airport customers availing of the pre-clearance by the removal of a checkpoint. We are delighted to have been chosen to be part of the XP–DITE project team and would like to thank the Department of Tourism, Transport and Sport and the US Transportation Security Administration for their support in putting in place these enhanced arrangements.”
Mark van den Brink, XP-DITE Project Co-ordinator, said: “Designing and evaluating airport checkpoints at system level gives the possibility to assess new approaches to airport security that could maintain a high level of security while improving the experience for passengers and reducing costs for operators.”
