ACI World provides a vision for the future of airport security post COVID-19

Airports Council International (ACI) World has released its Smart Security Vision 2040; an outline on achieving a seamless airport security screening experience post COVID-19.

This is part of the Smart Security programme which promotes concepts and solutions that take a risk-based approach, increase efficiency and enhance the passenger experience.

While the vision explores several long-term trends, it fully considers the present context of the economic and operational recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, and the industry’s increased focus on health and cleanliness.

The Smart Security vision includes innovations such as artificial intelligence, big data and stand-off detection. These innovations that promote a more touchless, seamless approach to airport security screening – which has become an even more important objective during the current pandemic – have the potential to radically transform the way that passengers and baggage are screened.

“As the aviation industry continues to plan for a sustained recovery from the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, ACI believes that any initiative that utilises improved technology to facilitate touchless and more efficient passenger journeys needs to be accelerated,” ACI World Director General, Luis Felipe de Oliveira said.

“The objective of Vision 2040 is to not only highlight technology and processes available today, but to look into those of the future which consider the changing needs and expectations of passengers following the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects.

“Smart Security aims to deliver effective security throughout the passenger journey, resulting in a seamless passenger experience and the ability to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach.”

To define the future of passenger and baggage screening, ACI World has been researching the market, seeking views from several industry experts in the field to evaluate potential advancements in aviation security screening. The new vision explores macro and micro level trends affecting airports, such as traffic growth, sustainability, passenger expectations and evolving security threats and implications for airport infrastructure.

The document is intended to be continually edited and updated, and stakeholder input will be integral to its evolution.