Keflavik Airport has responded to rapid growth by revamping its security checkpoint
The value of adopting Smart Security principles is being highlighted at Keflavik Airport (KEF), Iceland’s biggest airport.
The airport has faced rapid growth, from around two million passengers in 2010 to almost nine million in 2017. Such growth poses huge challenges, with infrastructure upgrades required to allow for a smooth passenger experience.
For KEF, this included a complete revamp of the security checkpoint—a project that started in 2015—with the focus on optimizing resource utilization, adapting facilities and upgrading screening equipment and systems.
While on this innovation journey, KEF participated in an IATA/ACI Smart Security workshop in 2016, and gained valuable information and insight from Smart Security guidance documentation, which helped them refine their implementation plans.
Among other innovations, KEF’s use of Centralized Image Processing (CIP) and parallel loading has delivered significant operational efficiencies.
CIP moves screeners away from the checkpoint, and delivers images to a central location where they are analyzed.
Parallel loading—or parallel divestment—meanwhile, allows several passengers to prepare for security at once; with passengers who prepare quickly able to overtake those who require more time.
In July 2017, 92% of passengers waited less than five minutes, and 99% waited less than 10 minutes
Hjalti S. Hjaltason, Project Manager Airport operations at KEF, reports that—as a result of the changes—passenger throughput has increased by around 20-25%, waiting times have decreased, and that the adaptations have been positively received by passengers and airport security staff alike.
Hjaltason adds that, in July 2017, 92% of passengers waited less than five minutes, and 99% waited less than 10 minutes.
KEF is now sharing its experiences with the IATA Smart Security team, to be included in Smart Security guidance documentation for the benefit of the industry.
“The number of airports deriving tangible benefits from implementing Smart Security concepts is steadily increasing,” says Guido Peetermans, IATA Project Manager, Smart Security. “And we stand ready to support them every step of the way.”
