Upgrading Ronaldsway’s security scanners would likely require a major investment including restructuring the airport layout.
DoI Minister Dr Michelle Haywood outlined the costs and works that could be required in response to comments on social media.
New scanners being installed further afield and some UK airports remove the need for passengers to remove items from bags and could allow people to carry liquids through security.
However, even in major UK airports the work has been slowed by costs and the requirement for infrastructure improvements.
Significant
On a post about the airport’s new chairs, Dr Haywood replied to comments from an islander who said the airport’s security needed upgrading.
Dr Haywood said: “Just to clarify, in order to install new generation scanners we are looking at significant spending commitment (think into seven figures).
“The current scanner area cannot take new scanners. The first floor of the current building was never constructed to take that sort of load.
“It would therefore entail significant engineering works to redesign the building to accommodate them. They are too large to fit into the current area so the security search area would have to move.
“The only sensible option would be to reconfigure the first floor, possibly with a mezzanine floor to be added above the check in desks. This is major construction.”
The minister also outlined that the cost of the scanners themselves is also high while installation would caused “months of disruption to the airport”.
She added: “I appreciate that the new generation scanners are more convenient but there are large hurdles to overcomes before it would be possible to install them at Ronaldsway.”
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