Britain’s four busiest airports to miss NextGen security screening deadline – is that acceptable?

CAPA ANALYST PERSPECTIVE - a new series where CAPA - Centre for Aviation's analyst team provide their personal views on a hot topic facing aviation around the world.

Last year CAPA - Centre for Aviation reported on two small airports - London City and Teesside - which together handled less than four million passengers in 2023 yet were airports that had seized the moment in an exemplary fashion and installed the latest CT scanners, which remove the need for passengers to go through most of the time-consuming security procedures they have had to endure since 2006.

But many others among the 40+ airports in the UK appeared less keen to stick to an already extended Jun-2024 government directive to install the machines.

Now three London airports and Manchester airport, which together handled over 175 million passengers in 2023, say they cannot complete installation until 2025, putting them at risk of fines.

David Bentley, Chief Airport Analyst at CAPA - Centre for Aviation questions whether this delay, which could result in severe levels of confusion for passengers, both British and foreigners, can be in anyway justified. There are arguments in the airports' favour, but on the other hand the question has to be asked about how much they really want it.