Up to 40% more passenger handling capacity from Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague is promised by the new Terminal 2 central security clearance. Automatic trains can carry out so-called clean luggage without unnecessary delays, but the biggest problem remains in the transport of liquids.
New premises of the Central Security Control at Terminal 2 of Prague Airport can be used by passengers from Monday to be handled within the Shengen Area.
There are eight fully automated and six manual X-ray lines in the security control workplace. The airport promises that it can handle many more passengers at the same time. At one point, up to three passengers on one route can prepare for security clearance at the very same time.
Another improvement is so-called baggage selection, when fully automated lines are able to identify “dirty” luggage that does not comply with safety regulations. Than it will be taken to a side track where it goes through a more thorough inspection by a security guard.
Clean baggage automatically goes on and the passenger can pick it up and continue to other areas of the airport after the passenger passes through the security frame. “Basically, it means that a slower customer will not delay other passengers,” says Roman Pacvoň, spokesman for Prague Airport.
The airport expects the new workplace to accommodate up to 2500 passengers per hour, up by 40 percent as compared with the current state of passenger security for Terminal 2 passengers.
In addition, the new automatic trains have larger plastic boxes in which you can put a laptop, phone, tape or fluid. These must be taken out of the hand baggage before being screened and submitted for review separately.
There will also be leg sleeves available, so unpleasant trampling over the airport floor in socks will be avoided. Additionally, there are also ready-to-use lifejacket bags prescribed for the transport of liquids and gels.
Comfort is also enhanced by ready-made storage and assembly consoles or light navigation systems that intuitively guide a passenger to a free stand on the automatic track.
Most Importantly, Declare!
However, according to employees, even the faster lines do not have to guarantee that you will not be delayed in the security check. The biggest one can be caused by your own fault. “Generally, the more time you spend preparing for security control, the less time you spend in it,” says Pacvoň.
By far the biggest problem with controls is caused by forbidden objects, especially liquids that are greater than the volume allowed. Undeclared fluids also delay the process. According to the safety regulations, passengers should have their liquids packed in a transparent bag and declare them by removing them from the hand baggage into the box. If the security officers do not see forbidden liquids, gels, and aerosols, they will not be allowed to be carried onwards and will have to be given up.
“Declared means that you officially admit these fluids by placing them in the box outside the luggage for a separate check. If you leave them in your luggage, it means according to regulations, that you do not know about these fluids and cannot go through a security check,” says Pacvoň.
Liquids include shampoos, soaps, and also Nutella etc, all with creamy consistency. In simple terms, whatever you can pick up with a spoon, please take out at the security check from your luggage. “We will not do anything about it. According to the regulations, we must not let these fluids continue to the transportation,” says Pacvoň. Every day there will be several big bins of prohibited articles at the airport.
The officially permitted amount of liquids you can take with you is one liter. Passengers forget about one prescription. No individual packs may be larger than 100 ml. If you have, for example, a small beer and a 200 ml shampoo, you qualify for the total amount, but the beer and the shampoo will not pass at the inspection.
If you are going for a trip, check the packaging of all the fluids carefully. Pack them at home in the prescribed bag and take them out of your bag before checking them so that airport staff can see them through modern technology. This speeds up your journey not only for yourself but also for other passengers.
Exceptions to the limitations include only baby food, medication, and a prescribed diet, which you can carry even in higher volumes if needed during and immediately after the flight. These fluids are additionally controlled by a special detector. Inform security personnel of these fluids.
And one piece of advice to finish. If you forget your drinking bottle in your luggage, drain the bottle, leave it through the blank checkbox, and then refill it with the taps that are close to the departure checkout, after the safety check.