Market Trends of Europe Airport Passenger Screening Systems Industry
Full Body Scanners Segment Will Showcase Remarkable Growth During the Forecast Period
According to the data published by Airport Council International (ACI), passenger traffic across the European airport network nearly doubled (+98%) in 2022 compared to 2021, reaching 1.94 billion passengers. However, that was still 21% below pre-pandemic (2019) volumes, with just 27% of Europe’s airports fully recovering their 2019 passenger traffic level. Thus, the growth in the number of air traffic passengers has led to various airports within the European region stepping up to implement advanced passenger screening systems. In recent years, different regional aviation security manufacturers have increased their investments in research and development to manufacture advanced full-body scanner systems to be used at airports.
To protect the privacy of screened individuals, the latest generation full-body scanners do not show the operator images of the screened person but highlight suspicious body areas on a generic body image. The security staff then checks the relevant body areas using other methods, for example, a pat-down search.
There have been growing developments in recent times regarding full-body scanners at various airports within the European region. For instance, in July 2023, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport announced installing new R&S QPS201 passenger security scanners. The modern security cameras will help the airport meet the surging growth in air traffic passengers. Moreover, the new scanners will offer speed and comfort for passenger screening while reducing the need for manual pat-down screening. Thus, the increase in air passenger traffic within the European region coupled with the growth in the usage of advanced passenger screening systems will lead to a positive outlook and market growth during the forecast period.
France Dominates the Market During the Forecast Period
France held the highest shares in the market and is expected to continue its domination during the forecast period. The growth is due to increased air traffic passengers within the country, leading to the development of new airports and expansion of the existing terminals. Such factors are expected to propel the market's growth in the coming years.
Paris Charles de Gaulle, Paris Orly Airport, Strasbourg International Airport, Bordeaux-Merignac Airport, and Nice Cote d'Azur Airport are the major airports operating in the French region. The number of airlines operating in the country has increased, leading to a growing demand for passenger screening systems across France.
With a high number of passengers passing through the airport annually, significant technological partnerships have been witnessed at the airport, leading to the potential for market growth in the country. For instance, in March 2023, France’s Vinci Airports collaborated with the National French Civil Aviation Agency (DGAC) to test the new equipment, aiding the airport operations to streamline passenger security checks at the Lyon-Saint-Exupery Airport. This new security equipment is aimed at simplifying passengers’ checking process by eliminating the requirement to remove electronic devices, liquids, gels, and aerosols from their carry-on baggage.
There has also been a significant increase in airport construction projects in France recently. For instance, in August 2020, Côte d’Azur International Airport, which is situated in Nice, France, and considered one of the busiest airports in France, will undergo an expansion project to expand its terminal 2 to offer improved services to its passengers and meet the projected growth in air traffic passenger numbers.
