Purchasing C3 scanners is on average eight times more expensive than the conventional X-ray screening machines
Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, an industry association, has warned that changes to European Union (EU) Aviation Security Regulation regulations would restrict the use of new generation baggage scanners at Europe’s airports.
According to a press statement by ACI Europe, the new regulation introduces severe restrictions on the use of next generation cabin baggage scanners at airports in the EU, as well as Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Norway (EEA).
The new restriction to be introduced as of September 1, imposes a 100 ml limitation for individual containers of liquids, thus erasing the main benefit accruing to passengers from C3 scanners.
The statement says that the amendments are specifically targeting C3 scanners, the cutting edge technology upholding best in class detection standards, which until now allowed passengers to carry liquids without any restriction and to keep them along with their large electronic devices inside their cabin bags at security checkpoints.
ACI Europe adds that this will also reduce the passenger throughput of security checkpoints at airports that have deployed C3 scanners. It says that this will result in significant operational strain, the mitigation of which will require the deployment of additional staff and the reconfiguration of security checkpoints, where feasible.
ACI says that the new restriction means that those airports that have already invested in C3 scanners to improve the passenger experience and their operational efficiency are heavily penalised, as little of the benefits associated with the use of this cutting edge technology will materialise.
Purchasing C3 scanners is on average eight times more expensive than the conventional X-ray screening machines they are replacing, while operating maintenance costs are four times higher.
Olivier Jankovec
“Security is non-negotiable, it is at the very top of priorities for Europe’s airports. As such all airports will comply in full with the new restriction. However, the fact remains that those airports which have been early adopters of this new technology are being heavily penalised both operationally and financially,” says Olivier Jankovec, Director General, ACI Europe.
“They had taken the decision to invest and deploy C3 scanners in good faith, based on the EU having greenlighted this equipment without any restriction attached. The decision to now impose significant restrictions to their use questions the trust and confidence the industry can place in the current EU certification system for aviation security equipment,” Jankovec adds.
“We need to draw the lessons from this situation and make sure the EU certification system provides the necessary legal certainty and operational stability moving forward,” he says.
ACI Europe says that no timeline and no process have been put in place to lift it although it is said to be a temporary measure.
“We, therefore, call on the European Commission and Member States to urgently develop a roadmap with set milestones to waive the current restrictions and restore the trust in the EU certification system for aviation security equipment. In the meantime, in order to limit operational impacts, it will be essential to ensure that liquids limited to 100ml can remain inside cabin bags when screened by C3 scanners,” says the association.