Tallinn Airport’s new generation security screening equipment makes the passenger journey more convenient

Credit: Tallinn Airport.

As air operations and the number of passengers increase, airports face the challenge of ensuring passenger safety while striving to improve the overall travel experience. Therefore, there is even more reason to be proud that Tallinn Airport has successfully completed the project to upgrade its security screening equipment, marking a significant step forward in enhancing the passenger experience.

Pre-flight security screening for passengers unfortunately remains one of the bottlenecks at every airport. The process of screening carry-on baggage and personal items can cause frustration and inconvenience for passengers. As the number of passengers continues to grow, it is essential for airports to adapt and ensure the smooth implementation of security screening with maximum efficiency and minimal time consumption. In line with this, Tallinn Airport has made a significant investment of €3.4 million in state-of-the-art security screening solutions. The companies involved in these changes were Rapiscan Systems and Vanderlande.

Two important changes for passengers

The technology of the new generation security screening equipment implemented at Tallinn Airport is ground-breaking because it uses high-resolution 3D imaging and modern software to enable smarter carry-on baggage screening. The devices can analyse the liquids and electronic devices in passengers’ carry-on baggage without requiring them to be taken out of bags and suitcases. This helps ensure a seamless airport experience for passengers and simplifies the work of security personnel.

Similar to Helsinki Airport, thanks to the new equipment, we have also been able to change the restrictions on the volume of liquids allowed in carry-on baggage. Gone are the days when passengers had to pack liquids in containers of less than 100ml and carefully place them in resealable plastic bags. When travelling from Tallinn Airport, passengers are now allowed to bring liquids in containers of up to two litres in their carry-on baggage. This means that larger toiletries, beverages, and liquid foods can be conveniently placed in carry-on bags.

The process of replacing the equipment required careful planning

The entire process started in mid-January of 2024 and lasted just over two months. In the first stage, we replaced two out of the five old security screening machines. Meanwhile, we continued pre-flight security screening for passengers with the remaining three machines. By mid-February, the first two C3 machines were configured, and we were able to start security screening with them. We then replaced the next two machines, leaving one old device as a backup. By 20 March 2024, we had put four new machines into operation, and then the fifth device was replaced. Starting from 3 April, pre-flight security screening for passengers is now carried out with the new machines.

Pre-flight security screening is necessary to ensure the safety of all air travellers, and therefore, no compromises could be made during the equipment replacement period. We are sincerely grateful to passengers for their patience and understanding during this transition. Our dedicated team has undergone comprehensive training to ensure the smooth and efficient implementation of the new security screening equipment. We are fully committed to making the security screening process faster and more convenient for all passengers.

Tallinn Airport’s new security screening area. Credit: Tallinn Airport.

Harmonisation across the world

As the new generation security screening equipment is currently only in use at a few airports across Europe, passengers may have to accept that the same rules may not apply at other airports for connecting or return flights. We hope that more airports will adopt the new system to harmonise the requirements for passengers and reduce confusion with different restrictions and processes. When all airports join this development, passengers can enjoy a smoother and more efficient security screening process, which, in turn, enhances travel comfort and helps make European airports even more attractive destinations worldwide.

It is important to note that despite these improvements, we still recommend that passengers arrive at the airport two hours before departure time. During peak hours, such as when multiple flights are scheduled, there may still be occasional waiting times at check-in counters and security queues. Recognising these possible delays, we strive to manage expectations and provide our valued passengers with a stress-free experience.

At Tallinn Airport, we believe that safety and convenience go hand-in-hand. While we may not be the world’s largest airport, our goal is to be the world’s cosiest airport, where the passenger journey is as stress-free as possible. Our efforts towards this goal have earned us the title of Best Airport in our size category by Airports Council International for six consecutive years. In the last edition, Tallinn Airport was also recognised in three additional categories – Most Enjoyable Airport in Europe, Easiest Journey Airport in Europe, and Cleanest Airport in Europe. The security screening equipment replacement project further showcases our unwavering commitment to improving the passenger journey.