Frankfurt Airport has become the first in the world to implement regular walk-through security scanners for passenger screening. This groundbreaking move follows a successful one-year trial at Concourse A in Terminal 1, and the full-scale deployment of the Rohde & Schwarz QPS Walk2000 system has now been authorised by the German Federal Police.

Enhanced Passenger Comfort

The QPS Walk2000 scanner offers a seamless experience for passengers, allowing them to walk through at a normal pace without the need to pause or adopt awkward postures. The system scans passengers without requiring them to remove jackets or metallic objects, enhancing both comfort and convenience.

This innovative technology employs millimeter-wave technology to penetrate clothing, creating an avatar of the person being scanned. Potential threats are flagged in real-time, and if an alarm is triggered, security personnel can quickly assess the indicated area rather than performing a full rescan of the passenger.

With roughly 18,000 passengers passing through the equipped checkpoint daily, Frankfurt Airport is already seeing the benefits of this new security measure. The airport plans to expand the use of QPS Walk2000 scanners to more security lanes in Terminal 1 and is set to deploy the system in the upcoming Terminal 3.

Alexander Laukenmann, Head of Fraport AG’s Aviation Division, emphasised the importance of the new technology:

“We’re the world’s first airport to set a new standard of passenger security with this 360° walkthrough scanner. During the test phase, we worked closely with the German Federal Police to optimise its operation and pave the way for certification. This is part of our ongoing efforts to improve the passenger experience by using the latest technologies to make checkpoints faster and easier to navigate while maintaining our high security standards.”

Collaboration and Innovation

Fraport has invested approximately 22 million EUR into upgrading security lanes with cutting-edge CT technology and modern lane designs. The airport currently manages around 160 security lanes, with the German Federal Police overseeing key security responsibilities, including compliance and armed checkpoint protection.

This successful collaboration between Fraport and the German Federal Police marks a significant milestone in airport security and passenger convenience, setting a new standard that could reshape the future of airport screening worldwide.