Manchester Airport in the U.K. is giving passengers the opportunity to pre-book a 15 minute security slot as part of a new trial by operator Manchester Airports Group (MAG).
The trial is part of a series of measures introduced by MAG to ensure passengers feel safer and more confident about traveling by air, particularly when travel demand starts to grow again in the near future. Last month, the airport group became the first in the U.K. to ask all passengers to cover their face either with face masks or with their own clothing. All MAG colleagues, interacting with passengers, are also required to wear the necessary protective equipment.
By booking their free slot, passengers will benefit from access to a dedicated lane straight to the security checkpoint and will be able to reach the departure lounge quicker. This approach will also allow the airport to manage the volume of passengers coming through security more efficiently and help keep queues shorter.
The availability of slots is limited and will be operated on a first come first served basis, through online booking. Passengers are encouraged to make a booking around two hours before their flight departure time and asked to arrive within the chosen slot. If passengers arrive outside 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.
If successful, the technology will be put in place at MAG’s other airports at London Stansted and East Midlands.
Read more at Manchester Airport
