Air travel in near future would be a lesser hassle with International Air Transport Association planning to make airport security easier for regular travellers by classifying passengers on basis of risk assessment and introducing advanced screening technology.
IATA's 'Checkpoint of the Future' offers a vision for how airport security can be made more effective and convenient for passengers, compared to the current airport checkpoints, which were developed in the 1970's to stop hijackers carrying metal objects.
Though new technology has gradually been grafted into the checkpoint, the screening remains largely one-size-fits all with no differentiation based on the level of risk presented by the passenger.
IATA said its vision for future will combine two distinct elements: classification of passengers through risk assessment, and advanced screening technology.
"Risk assessment of passengers is a vital step towards focusing on catching dangerous people not just dangerous items. Passengers approaching the checkpoint will be directed to one of three lanes, depending on the information scanned from their passport or ticket," IATA said in its annual report on Monday.
The project is at a conceptual stage with a mock-up having been displayed at the IATA Annual General Meeting in Singapore in June 2011.
{{/usCountry}}The project is at a conceptual stage with a mock-up having been displayed at the IATA Annual General Meeting in Singapore in June 2011.
{{/usCountry}}It envisages three security lanes - one for 'known travellers' with the most convenient passage, another for 'normal passengers' with standard security checks and the third for 'enhanced security' travellers for whom the checks will be most stringent.