The Airport Authority will gradually introduce a new intelligent security screening system for passengers starting from the 2nd of next month. The entire system costs more than 800 million, replacing the current X-ray scanning machines with computer tomography X-ray machines. With the new system, passengers no longer need to pre-remove electronic devices and liquids during security checks.
Furthermore, in response to the flight information system failure at the airport last Sunday (23rd), which caused inconvenience to passengers, the Airport Authority issued a public apology.
During a press conference on the 26th, the Airport Authority announced plans to phase in the use of the intelligent security screening system. In the first phase, a total of 4 new channels will be installed in the South and North Departure Halls. Each channel can accommodate the luggage of 3 passengers, and the capacity of each channel is expected to increase from 240 people per hour to 360 people per hour, improving the overall average processing flow by 20%.
The new computer tomography X-ray machine can display three-dimensional images, allowing security personnel to analyze luggage comprehensively in 360 degrees. The scanning time will also be reduced from the current 15 seconds to 10 seconds, eliminating the step for passengers to pre-remove items, thus enhancing the passenger experience and security efficiency.
Currently, if passengers fail to pass through the metal detector arch, they have to undergo manual inspection. Starting next month, it will be replaced with full-body scanners. Luggage trays will also be switched from manual retrieval to automatic retrieval.
Yiu Siu-chung, the Executive Director of Airport Operations of the Airport Authority, stated that although under the new system passengers do not need to remove liquids for security checks, considering that security measures in other countries have not changed, the limit for liquids in carry-on luggage remains at 100 milliliters to avoid confusion.
He also mentioned that the entire system costs more than 800 million and is expected to take two years to complete the replacement work. Terminal 1 will eventually have 50 new security channels and 32 full-body scanners, making it the world’s first airport to fully adopt an intelligent security screening system.
Cheung Tak-keung, the CEO of Airport Security Limited, mentioned that the new system can save 25% of manpower, and adjustments will be made according to different time periods to ensure a smooth security screening process.
In addition, regarding the flight information system failure at the airport last Sunday, which required the use of handwritten whiteboards to communicate flight information, Yiu Siu-chung once again apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers on that day. He revealed that on that day, the data showed that the airport handled over one thousand flights and 150,000 passengers, with mostly normal operations but some slight departure delays. He believes that there is still room for improvement in the Authority’s backup and emergency preparedness and that they are conducting in-depth research to submit a report to the government.