Transport / Airport layout could be rejigged to cater for new baggage scanner
NEW LAYOUT proposals at Sumburgh Airport are being considered ahead of work getting underway on the installation of a new hold baggage scanner.
The scanner is being put in place to meet new European legislation requiring all hold baggage-screening equipment to be fitted with explosive detection systems by September 2020.
A spokesman for airport operator Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) said that the benefits of the ‘Standard 3’ equipment include “avoiding the need to carry out manual baggage inspections”.
The company confirmed that “changes to the terminal building will be required to accommodate the baggage screening equipment and new layout proposals are being considered”.
With the new machine said to be “significantly larger” than the current hold baggage scanner, it is thought that some passenger seats in the airport terminal could potentially fall victim to the changes to make space.
It is understood that the cost of the scanner itself, combined with installation and training, would stretch into the millions.
An engineering and construction company from Forres, meanwhile, has won a contract to refurbish three of HIAL’s hangars at Sumburgh Airport.
The value of the contract won by AJ Engineering & Construction Services is £1.41 million.
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