Body Scanners a success at Manchester Airport             

21st October 2010

Full Use of  Body Scanners at Manchester Airport

Passengers at  Manchester Airport have overwhelming accepted the new controversial full body scan after a one year trial, a new survey has shown.

The airport will now introduce body scanners in all security areas by the end of the month after 95% of travellers that were questioned stated that they preferred  the scan to the “pat down” method when passing through security.

Waiting time at the security areas has been significantly cut as the body scan takes only 25 seconds compared to two minutes for the "pat down" system by a security officer. The other bonus is that passengers are no longer required to remove their belts or jackets which was tiresome. 

Andy Harrison,the  managing director of Manchester Airport stated that trials for the scanner began in 2009 as the greatest number of complaints received involved the "pat down system".The airport acknowledged that the process was controversial, hence the trial period.

He added that passengers had made it clear that they preferred the experience of a body scanner because it is significantly quicker as it doesn’t involved being frisked nor does it require them to remove their coats, jackets and belts and is less intrusive.

The survey also noted and respected that a small number of people still had doubts about the scanners on privacy or medical grounds but that the airport had ensured that there were the highest levels of privacy protection and expert studies have shown that the technology is safe