DEPARTING passengers faced delays at Jersey Airport Thursday morning as a new scanner had to be repaired on its second day in service.
One of two new machines that have been fitted as part of a £3 million upgrade of security facilities suffered technical problems, causing some departing passengers to have to queue for up to an hour. Some flights were consequently delayed.
The X-ray scanners went live on Wednesday morning, meaning passengers are no longer required to remove liquids, laptops and phones from their hand luggage.
In a statement issued yesterday, a Ports of Jersey spokesperson apologised to passengers, and said: ‘Specialist engineers from the company that installed the machines are on site and are due to complete repairs by the end of the day.
‘A queue did build up this morning and there were some delays to flights to allow passengers to clear security, but that has now cleared.
‘We will retain the previous technology as contingency to provide resilience while the new system beds in and passengers will be advised which X-ray machine to use, depending on what they are carrying in their hand luggage.’
Among the worst-affected flights yesterday were the 7.25am to Heathrow, which departed 44 minutes late, the 9.10am to Bristol (delayed by 66 minutes) and the 9.15am to Gatwick (60 minutes). A third new machine is due to be installed later in the summer. The new technology is also set to be introduced at other airports across the British Isles ahead of a June 2024 deadline.
