Prague Airport reveals centralised security checkpoint

CAPACITY BOOST: The new checkpoint can process 40 per cent more passengers every hour than before

Prague Airport’s new centralised security checkpoint has gone into full operation. The announcement today that the development had gone into action in Terminal 2 marks the end of the largest project undertaken at the terminal since it opened in 2006.

It means all passengers flying to Schengen Area countries will have to go through the new security checkpoint, which will significantly increase the airport’s handling capacity 

Václav Řehoř, Chairman of the Prague Airport Board of Directors, said: “For several consecutive years, Prague Airport has been experiencing an unprecedented increase in passenger numbers.

“This, in turn, places greater demands on our operating capacities, which we are continuously increasing through development sub-projects within the existing airport.

“These take the form of structural or building modifications, but also the introduction of new technologies into operation.

“Bringing together both of these approaches, the new centralised security checkpoint facility at Terminal 2 is one of the short-term development projects that we are currently implementing,”

The security checkpoint facility newly has a total of eight fully automated and six manual X-ray lines. Automated lines allow passengers to take advantage of a system where luggage and items are placed in parallel – this means that, at each line, up to three passengers may be getting ready for a security check at the same.

In addition, the lines are fitted with an automatic conveyor system that makes it possible to separate luggage that requires additional security screening from luggage for which no additional checks are necessary.

The X-rays lines are equipped with an unattended transport system for conveyor boxes that are larger than those previously used and can conveniently hold passenger items.

Thanks to these new technology features, the security checkpoint facility will be able to handle up to 2500 passengers per hour, thus increasing the hourly capacity of passenger security screening at Terminal 2 by up to 40 per cent. 

Mr Řehoř added: “In the future, we intend to introduce other major modern technologies within the new security checkpoint area.

“For example, we plan to purchase body scanners and, where relevant, replace manual lines with automatic ones, which could further increase our passenger handling capacity in the future.

“However, these follow-up steps will be primarily implemented in response to future trends and developments in the air transport market.” 

The opening of the new checkpoint at Terminal 2 also marks the end of operation of the previous facility that had served the airport since 2006, that is, from the very beginning of the second airport terminal’s operation. The space that thus becomes available is going to be used by Prague Airport to build a brand new commercial zone with new restaurants and shops.