To improve the security experience and help restore confidence in travel as the airport begins to see more people wanting to fly, Manchester Airport now provides the opportunity to pre-book a free 15-minute security slot, as part of a new UK-first trial by MAG.
The trial is part of a series of measures introduced by the airport to ensure passengers feel safer and more confident about traveling by air, particularly when travel demand starts to grow again in the near future. Last month, the airport group became the first in the UK to ask all passengers to cover their face either with face masks or with their own clothing. All MAG colleagues interacting with passengers are also required to wear the necessary protective equipment.
By booking their free slot, the airport says passengers will benefit from access to a dedicated lane straight to the security checkpoint and will be able to reach the departure lounge quicker. This approach will also allow the airport to manage the volume of passengers coming through security more efficiently and help keep queues shorter.
The availability of slots is limited and will be operated on a first-come, first-served basis, through online booking. Passengers will be encouraged to make a booking around two hours before their flight departure time and are asked to arrive within the chosen slot. If passengers arrive outside the allocated time, they will not be able to access the dedicated line and will be redirected to the security queue, which may be longer than usual given social distancing measures that the airport will be in place.
Brad Miller, Manchester Airport’s chief operating officer, said, “Covid-19 will undoubtedly reshape the airport experience. We are exploring every innovation and technology that can help us to adapt to the new world, protect public health and restore confidence in air travel. This new measure will allow us to manage our security process more efficiently in these challenging times, providing a better and more comfortable experience for passengers.”