Manchester Airport to trial pre-bookable security slots
Manchester Airport is trialling a system where passengers can pre-book time slots to clear security through a dedicated lane.
It hopes the move will resort travel confidence by helping to manage the volume of passengers coming through security more efficiently and help keep queues shorter.
Queues are expected to be longer with the new social distancing measures in place.
If successful, the technology will be put in place at the group’s other airports at London Stansted and East Midlands.
Passengers can pre-book 15-minute slots by going online. The availability of slots is limited and will be operated on a first come first served basis, through online booking.
Travellers are encouraged to make a booking around two hours before their flight departure time and asked to arrive within the chosen slot.
If they don’t arrive within the allocated time, they will not be able to access the dedicated line and will be redirected to the security queue, which may be longer than usual given social distancing measures that the airport will put in place.
Manchester Airport’s chief operating officer, Brad Miller, said: "Safety and security will always be the first priority and, at the same time, Covid-19 will undoubtedly reshape the airport experience. We are exploring every innovation and technology that can help us to adapt to the new world, protect public health and restore confidence in air travel.
"This new measure will allow us to manage our security process more efficiently in these challenging times, providing a better and more comfortable experience for passengers.
"It is the latest in a series of measures introduced by MAG to make travel safer during the pandemic, which includes asking passengers and colleagues to wear face coverings and piloting temperature screening technologies."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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