Manchester Airport invests in safety

May 29, 2009

Manchester Airport has announced its investment in a Real Time Tomography baggage screening system that promises to reduce airport delays and improve efficiency.

The airport has been testing the advanced screening technology since the end of 2008, and has invested nearly £2 million to the development project with Rapiscan Systems, a leading supplier of security inspection systems.

The Real Time Tomography system - or RTT - has been designed to generate high-resolution 3D x-ray images of passenger baggage at far quicker rates than the current technology. As a result, RTT promises to significantly improve detection of potential threats to aviation security, reduce delays in baggage handling, increase the efficiency of airport operations and improve the overall experience of airport customers.

Mike Fazackerley, customer service director for Manchester Airport, said: "The RTT has the potential to dramatically improve the security process. Safety and security aligned to customer service present major challenges to our business, yet with this major investment into our security process, we continue to reflect how important we place safety in our operations.

"The ongoing security issues in the UK present serious cost implications for our business. Any opportunity to invest in technology that enables us to meet security regulations, while making the passenger experience simpler, is something we're willing to experiment with and has been evidenced in this partnership."

Terry Whitlock, Rapiscan Systems' managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Asia, said: "Passenger safety is of course the main imperative behind our development of the RTT system. Airport operators are challenged to deliver passengers and their baggage to their destination both safely and quickly.

"Recently, increased security measures have caused delays as suspect bags have had to be manually inspected or re-scanned. The installation of the RTT system will mean that the travelling public will be safer and far less likely to be hindered by the delays caused by misplaced baggage and current hold baggage screening process."

If you're flying from Manchester Airport, remember to booking your airport hotel and airport parking with Holiday Extras.

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