Airport screening market set to take off

Surge in air travellers creates tremendous growth potential for European airport passenger screening market.

“Revenues in the European airport passenger screening market are poised to increase substantially over the period 2008-2017”
-Research from Frost&Sullivan

The flow of passengers travelling by air is set to undergo remarkable growth in Europe over the next few years, according to new research from Frost & Sullivan. The research firm has found that airports are revamping and redesigning their infrastructure with a priority on improving security, creating new opportunities for security equipment providers. The airport passenger screening industry needs to adjust to evolving requirements and effectively respond to customer demands in this concentrated marketplace.

The advent of millimetre-wave technology is on the verge of transforming the airport security screening market in Europe. Upcoming revamps and soaring passenger capacity are triggering major changes in security layouts, setting the stage for security screening to take-off over the next decade. As a result, revenues in the European airport passenger screening market are poised to increase substantially over the period 2008-2017 as airports procure additional units to leverage their security layout and better compete in their passengers’ facilitation.

The report, entitled Airport Passenger Screening Market in Europe and covering passengers’ hold baggage, narcotics and metal detection, finds that the market earned revenues of $28,560,000 million in 2007 and estimates this to reach $72,420,000 million in 2017. “Most notably, airport expansions and the desire to implement cutting-edge security technology will drive the market,” notes Frost & Sullivan analyst Marie-France Mann. “The number of passengers in airports is on the rise, compelling the procurement of additional security equipment.”

Airport security will increasingly change, as the European Union standardises and introduces regulations. At the same time, most airports in Europe intend to modernise, privatise and develop their infrastructure. Currently, the airport security screening market remains heavily concentrated on the suppliers’ side, with significant opportunities for market participants to grow their business.

The biggest challenge for airport screening equipment manufacturers will be to help airports achieve the optimal balance between security and facilitation. Suppliers must support airports in achieving high revenues, while providing top-line security equipment and services.

European airports are undergoing major changes in infrastructure design to process the growing number of passengers. However, they have to ensure that the security equipment and design they purchase comply with EU-mandated security regulations. Therefore, suppliers face the challenge of adhering their systems to EU regulatory standards.

“Security screening manufacturers must clearly understand the requirements of end users and the regulations framing the industry,” explains Mann. “While evaluating the needs and customising their products to meet varied requirements, manufacturers should opt for new system designs and capabilities to revolutionise the marketplace.”

How millimetre wave technology works
• Beams of radio frequency (RF) energy in the millimetre wave spectrum are projected over the body’s surface at high speed from two antennas simultaneously as they rotate around the body
• The RF energy reflected back from the body or other objects on the body is used to construct a three-dimensional image
• The three-dimensional image of the body, with facial features blurred for privacy, is displayed on a remote monitor for analysis