Starting this April, travellers passing through Estonia’s Tallinn Airport can expect simple safety checks as the need to remove liquids and laptops from hand luggage will be eliminated, thanks to the installation of new scanners.
As the current security equipment is being replaced, passengers may experience slightly longer wait times until the end of March.
As the Estonian Public Broadcasting, ERR, explains, the newly installed screening devices utilise 3D technology to display the contents of bags and have been deemed safe for passengers’ health.
Commenting on this decision, Tarvi Pihlakas, head of aviation security at Tallinn Airport, has also announced additional plans to potentially remove the requirement to pack liquids in separate bags, further increasing convenience for travellers.
Pihlakas stressed that while the rule change will apply at Tallinn Airport, it may not be applicable at other airports.
Due to ongoing reconstruction works, he advises travellers to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their flight.
According to the same, morning rush hours tend to be particularly busy. Pihlakas further said that lines can last up to 25 minutes, although occasionally they can be longer.
Moreover, replacing safety equipment comes with a price tag of €2.8 million.
Recent data provided by Tallinn Airport revealed that during the last month, the airport saw a robust flow of travelers, with a total of 210,000 individuals passing through its gates.
Such a figure marks the second-highest January turnout on record, trailing only slightly behind the pre-pandemic peak observed in January 2020. The year-on-year comparison shows an increase of 7.3 per cent in passenger numbers, primarily attributed to the expanded capacity provided by nearly all airlines operating in and out of Tallinn.
Leading the charge in offering additional seating capacity last month were airBaltic, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and SAS. Among these, airBaltic emerged as the airline of choice for 27 per cent of all passengers, followed by Ryanair at 18 per cent, with Lufthansa and Finnair closely trailing at 11 per cent each.
According to these data, a group of 14 carriers facilitated direct flights from Tallinn to 33 destinations throughout January, with the busiest routes connecting to major hubs in Helsinki, Frankfurt, and Riga.
While the popular charter flights to holiday spots in Egypt remained in demand, January saw the inauguration of charter services in Sri Lanka, diversifying the travel options available to passengers.
