Some travellers heading to the U.S. from Calgary International Airport (YYC) will no longer have to remove liquids and laptops from their carry-on bags before passing through security.
A new piece of 3D X-ray technology was unveiled this week that allows liquids, aerosols and gels to remain packed away, as long as they don’t exceed the 100-ml limit. Medical devices and other large electronics — including laptops — can stay in the carry-on bags as well.
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) says YYC is one of the first airports in the country to receive the new screening equipment through a national program that will bring the technology to more Canadian airports over the next several years.
The new technology has been installed in the screening line located at the Concourse E security checkpoint used by travellers to the United States.
“As the holiday season approaches, the introduction of CATSA’s new CT X-ray technology to one of our screening lanes at YYC couldn’t be more timely,” said Chris Dinsdale, the CEO and president of the Calgary Airport Authority.
Computed tomography (CT) technology uses advanced three-dimensional rotatable X-ray images, making it easier for airport screeners to analyze bag contents and to detect explosives and other potential threats when screening carry-on baggage.
The older screening technology uses two-dimensional images.
“For the passengers, it means a little bit of a quicker experience,” said CATSA spokesperson Dominique Huras.
“You don’t have to unpack, repack, when you go through. You just put it in, you go through, and you pick it up on the other side.”
Calgary airport passenger Meghan Boland thinks the new screening system is something that’s been “a long time coming.”
“We should never be taking out our liquids. I still don’t understand that,” she told CBC News.
“You can put them in your checked bag, but in your carry-on you have to take them out.”
Todd Haase said he thinks the new X-ray screener is a good idea, but since the only thing he has to remove from his carry-on is a laptop, he doesn’t think it will save him much time.
“Now, if they could do something that you could just walk right by and you don’t have to do anything else, it would be great,” said Haase.
Huras from CATSA said the goal of the program is to have this new technology in all Canadian airports, along all screening lines, in the next few years.
