Sweden’s Stockholm Arlanda Airport is being modernized, and this includes a new security checkpoint for Terminal 5 in 2023. Following a public procurement procedure, operator Swedavia signed a contract with Chinese company, Nuctech. The x-ray equipment will be made in Poland and installed and placed in service by the Swedish sub-contractor NSC Sweden.
Nuctech equipment is banned in the United States due to security concerns, and Swedavia has come under fire for signing with the supplier.
“The Nuctech equipment has been approved by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), which is the agency in charge of approving screening equipment for use in EU airports,” said Mats Paulsson, Head of Corporate Security at Swedavia. “The procurement also follows the regulations set out in the Swedish Protective Security Act. Swedavia will also sign a security protection agreement with the supplier.”
Swedavia said in a statement that the equipment will screen passengers’ hand baggage at the security checkpoint and does not handle personal data or other sensitive data.
Nuctech’s x-ray equipment negates the need to x-ray electronic equipment and liquids separately. The system will be used as part of the new security checkpoint in Terminal 5, which is expected to be completed in 2023. The security checkpoint will be staffed and the work will be carried out by Swedavia’s contracted supplier for security screening, the Swedish security company Avarn Security.
The Swedish Transport Agency is considering the contract award.
“In our judgment, we have complied with the laws in effect regarding both procurement and security, and we have made the assessments about protective security that must be made in such a procurement. But we of course welcome the Swedish Transport Agency now examining the matter and making their assessment. We will be in dialogue with the Transport Agency on this matter in the near future,” says Mats Paulsson.
