Security checks at Berlin Airport’s terminals will be equipped with new control technology

(from left to right): Aletta von Massenbach, CEO of Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH and Carsten Glade, President of the Berlin Federal Police Directorate. Copyright: Günter Wicker / Berlin Brandenburg Airport GmbH

Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH (FBB) has been responsible for passenger and baggage checks at Berlin Airport (BER) since January 01, 2024. As planned, at the beginning of the year it took over the organisation, control, implementation and financing of aviation security checks from the Federal Police in accordance with Section 5 LuftSiG.

After Frankfurt am Main Airport, Berlin Airport is the second German airport to carry out air security checks on passengers and their luggage. The aim is to further develop the processes functionally and, as a result, further reduce waiting times for passengers. The safety of passengers and employees remains the top priority.

The assumption of these sovereign tasks has been prepared over the past few months together with the Federal Police. Securitas Aviation Service GmbH & Co. KG (Securitas) will initially continue to carry out passenger and baggage checks.

The plan is to gradually equip the security checks at BER with state-of-the-art control devices, so-called CT scanners. The first five of eight CT scanners in Terminal 2 are already in use. The computer tomography used in the CT scanners enables reliable and rapid detection of a wide variety of materials and objects. Passengers using the new CT lanes no longer have to remove liquids, smartphones and other electronic devices from their hand luggage. The new devices will also be installed in Terminal 1 and preparations are underway.

(from left to right): Tobias Soppart, CEO / Segment Manager Securitas Aviation Aletta von Massenbach, CEO FBB / Thomas Hoff Andersson, COO FBB / Carsten Glade President of the Berlin Federal Police. Copyright: Günter Wicker / Berlin Brandenburg Airport GmbH

Aletta von Massenbach, CEO of Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH: “We have prepared for a long time and carefully to manage the security checks. I would like to thank everyone involved in the project for their commitment. By taking on these sovereign tasks, we have the opportunity to better plan the processes at our airport and thus make them more efficient. The overarching goal remains to maintain the high level of aviation security. We are pleased to have Securitas at our side as a new contractual partner. The Federal Police remains a reliable partner for us.”

Carsten Glade, President of the Berlin Federal Police Directorate: “In the past few months, the Federal Police and the FBB have done everything together to prepare the FBB for the tasks assigned to it on January 01, 2024. We are extremely confident and full of confidence that the required safety standards will be met while maintaining the usual high quality. We are taking this step to the ‘next level’ together, and the FBB can continue to rely on the cooperation and, if necessary, expert advice from the Federal Police in the future.”

Tobias Soppart, Managing Director / Segment Manager Securitas Aviation: “Securitas has been deployed with around 1,800 people since Berlin Airport began operations. As the largest German service provider in the field of aviation security, we are proud to be doing our part to ensure security at the capital’s airport. The new organisational model strengthens cooperation between the airport operator, federal police and Securitas. This ensures even closer coordination in terms of personnel planning, use of technology and service. The passengers in particular benefit from this – while safety remains the same.”

The first five of the eight state of the art control devices, so called CT scanners, are already in use in Terminal 2 at BER. Copyright: Günter Wicker / Berlin Brandenburg Airport GmbH