Rohde & Schwarz’s security scanners to improve passenger comfort at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has installed Rohde & Schwarz QPS201 security scanners. A shortage of personnel in the after COVID-19 period and a fully resumed air traffic turned out to be obstacle to its handling at the security lanes. After air passengers have recently been confronted with long waiting queues for security checks, the modernised security lanes at Schiphol now meet the surging post-pandemic travel demands.
Since 2019, Schiphol operates more than 25 R&S QPS201 security scanners. In February 2023, it was decided to also modernise the Schengen departure filter, where most traffic is expected during peak seasons like school holidays. The R&S QPS201 offers speed and comfort for person screening without the need to raise arms and ultra-low alarm rates that reduce the need for manual pat-downs. Moreover, the open construction of the scanner makes it much more pleasant for passengers who feel place constrained in classic cabin-type scanners.
Schiphol is now able to minimise manual pat-down searches consuming less time and passengers experience higher convenience and speed at security checkpoints. Moreover, security officers are composed, “The new scanners work much easier, and we have to inspect fewer passengers. It gives them much more convenience and makes it safer, really a great progress.”
With a firm deadline to be met before the start of the Dutch May holidays, all parties had to work together very closely. Project manager Perry van Kan, says “It takes a lot of work and planning to change a complex environment such as the Schengen security filter. The passenger service shall always continue, and changes may not invoke any limitation. Normally, such a process takes a lot of time, but we didn’t have that. It was great that the security scanners were delivered in such a short time and the cooperation with Rohde & Schwarz has been experienced to be very flexible. It proves that, if necessary, Schiphol can also make such a project a great success in a short timeframe.”
One important criterion for Schiphol to proceed with the replacement was the timely delivery of the 21 security scanners. Despite the global shortage of raw materials in the component industry, Rohde & Schwarz proved to be a partner also in this aspect. As the R&S QPS201 is developed and manufactured in Germany, Rohde & Schwarz was able to guarantee delivery times even under such challenging conditions.
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