Innovations at Kaunas Airport: passengers' hand luggage is already being checked by the latest generation of aviation security scanners

Aviation security screening at Kaunas airport has become faster and more convenient for passengers, as three modern three-dimensional computer tomography-based aviation security scanners have been enabled at full capacity. During the check-in procedure, passengers no longer need to remove any electronic devices and liquids from hand luggage - new devices analyze the contents of the luggage in a three-dimensional space.

Electronics and liquids will remain in your luggage

The first passengers were screened with the new equipment in Kaunas last November when the testing phase took place, and the system was put into full use in February of this year, after all tuning work was completed.

"New technology solutions at Lithuanian airports first of all ensure a higher level of aviation security, but at the same time improve passenger experience. Passengers no longer need to take liquids and electronic devices out of their bags, suitcases or backpacks - everything can stay inside the luggage. As a result, the screening process becomes more efficient, faster and of higher quality. In addition, certified devices are capable of automatically identifying even particles of explosive materials when checking all baggage," says Vidas Ksanas, Head of the Safety and Security Department of Lithuanian Airports.

He adds that next year, seven of the same scanners will start operating in the new departure terminal at Vilnius Airport, which will be the most modern in the Baltic States.

Lithuanian Airports purchased the new generation aviation security scanners during an international public procurement. It will be released in 2022. Polish company Dimark S.A. won the procurement. The value of the entire project is 5.8 million. euros (without VAT). Devices of the well-known German manufacturer Smiths Detection are being installed in Lithuanian airports.

The requirement for the volume of liquids in luggage is not changing

According to V. Ksanas, the innovations also facilitate the work of security screening inspectors, as they can rotate the 3D image generated by the scanners on their screen at various angles and easily identify items placed in hand luggage. Even liquids do not need to be removed, it is just important that they are properly packed, in accordance with the requirements up to now: liquids carried in hand luggage must be in containers with a capacity of no more than 100 ml, and the total volume of liquids per passenger cannot exceed 1 liter (1000 ml).

The Head of the Safety and Security Department of Lithuanian Airports points out that for the time being, airports in Europe and the world apply different practices regarding the transportation of liquids in hand luggage. However, the expert hopes that the broad international discussion of airports will turn into common decisions and uniform rules for the entire aviation sector, which will allow the current order to be changed and the advantages of modern security technologies to be fully exploited.

passenger terminal expansion construction set to begin in early 2024

Lithuanian Airports has signed a contract with INFES, which has won a public tender and will carry out the expansion of the Kaunas Airport passenger terminal. The value of the contract is EUR 17.7 million (excluding VAT). The contractor is expected to start work in the first quarter of 2024 and finish in mid-2025.

The terminal expansion will double passenger capacity at Kaunas Airport to 2 million passengers per year.

"Kaunas Airport is demonstrating very strong passenger growth rates that far exceed the design capacity of the existing terminal building, so expansion is essential. The expanded terminal will be able to handle twice as many passengers - around 2 million travellers per year in total. This will respond to current travel trends and future growth prospects. Passengers will have more space and more technological advances, which means faster procedures and more comfortable waiting for flights," says Arnas Dūmanas, Director of the Development Department of Lithuanian Airports.

According to the data of this year, passenger flows at Kaunas Airport are at a record high: it is expected that this year the airport will handle about 1.3 million passengers.

Kaunas Airport debuts next-gen aviation security scanners

Kaunas Airport Takes the Lead Among Baltic Airports 

In late October, Kaunas Airport began installing next-gen aviation security scanners and baggage handling lines. By November, all three CT scanners in the departures zone will be in place, with testing planned during December. Starting in January 2024, departing passengers will enjoy the benefits of this cutting-edge technology.

Due to the installation works in November, Kaunas Airport passengers may experience some short-term inconveniences during some periods.

The international public procurement announced by Lithuanian Airports for the deployment of next-generation aviation security scanners and baggage lines as early as 2022 has been won by the Polish company Dimark S.A., with a total value of EUR 5.8 million (excluding VAT). The winning company will deploy at Lithuanian airports X-ray equipment from the well-known German manufacturer Smiths Detection.

Due to existing infrastructure constraints at Vilnius Airport, it is not possible to install the new generation of aviation screening equipment in the old terminals of Vilnius Airport, so the technology will be deployed in the new departure terminal at the capital's air gate and will be operational in the first quarter of 2025. A total of 7 baggage screening lines and scanners will be replaced at Vilnius Airport.

According to representatives of Lithuanian Airports, the new standard scanners and lines will help to serve more passengers in the same period of time, and will provide passengers with more convenience and less stress during the screening of hand luggage.

Electronics will be able to stay inside the luggage

The deployment of third generation (C3) three-dimensional computed tomography security scanners is said to be the latest trend in aviation security screening, which is already being seen in practice in some European airports.

"We are taking a very important step towards technological innovation and are the first Baltic airports to actually implement this solution. A significant change for passengers will be that from January next year at the aviation security check at Kaunas Airport it will no longer be necessary to take any electronic devices out of hand luggage, but they, as well as other items, will be visible and analysed in three dimensions with the help of our new generation scanners without even removing them from suitcases or backpacks," Vidas Kšanas, Head of the Safety and Security Department of Lithuanian Airports, said.

The network of Lithuanian Airports consists of three airports in Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga. Kaunas Airport (IATA: KUN, ICAO: EYKA) is the second-busiest civil airport in Lithuania after Vilnius Airport.

Lithuanian airports: looking for contractors to develop Kaunas Airport terminal and apron

Search for contractors to develop Kaunas Airport: after reconstruction, Lithuanian airports will be able to handle more than 10 million passengers a year

Kaunas Airport is taking an important strategic step - international tenders for the selection of contractors for the passenger terminal and the northern apron expansion projects. 

This year's data shows that passenger flows at Kaunas Airport are at a record high and ahead of previous forecasts. If this trend continues, this year Kaunas Airport will handle more than 1.3 million passengers, which is well above its design capacity.

According to the Minister of Transport and Communications, Marius Skuodis, the development of the infrastructure of Kaunas Airport is of great importance for both the state's economic and national defence plans.

"Kaunas Airport is one of the fastest recovering airports in the region and has been exceeding the pre-pandemic results since the spring of last year. The existing terminal is already full to capacity at certain times because it is not equipped to handle such a rapid growth in passenger numbers. It is also very important that this airport is a logistics hub for NATO partners. Military mobility projects are being prepared, which will also contribute to expanding the airport's capabilities," the Minister said.

The changes will not only expand passenger capacity, but will also help to increase the volume of aircraft maintenance services, as Kaunas Airport is one of the most important aircraft repair and maintenance bases in the Baltic region, and will create conditions for the growth of freight traffic

"These two development projects are among the strategic priorities of Lithuanian Airports in 2023. They will ensure the sustainable development of the network of Lithuanian airports as a whole and, when completed in 2025, will enable them to serve more than 10 million passengers per year. These developments will also strengthen Kaunas Airport's position as a leader in aircraft maintenance in the Baltic region. We are looking for contractors both in Lithuania and abroad. When announcing the procurement, we have set a target that the real expansion works in both the passenger terminal and the northern apron could start already at the end of this year," says Aurimas Stikliūnas, Interim CEO of Lithuanian Airports.

Preparing for big changes at Kaunas Airport

Kaunas Airport's upcoming expansion projects

Lithuanian Airports are launching market consultations on an international public tender to be announced at the end of April to find a contractor for the expansion of the Kaunas Airport passenger terminal. The expansion works are expected to start in the second half of this year and will last about two years. Once completed, the departures and arrivals areas of Kaunas Airport will be able to handle more than 800 passengers and up to 6 aircraft simultaneously.

"Kaunas Airport has not only returned to, but is already surpassing its pre-pandemic passenger volumes. Given the increasing passenger flows and growing passenger needs, the development and technological modernisation of Kaunas Airport is essential. We want this to happen as soon as possible, so we are launching market consultations on the procurement of contract works. If everything goes according to plan, we will announce the international public procurement at the end of April, and the contract could be signed and preparatory works could start in the second half of this year," said Arnas Dūmanas, Director of the Operations and Infrastructure Department of Lithuanian Airports.

During the market consultation phase, Lithuanian Airports will consult with potential bidders on the tender conditions, their feasibility and the details of the technical specification. Mr A.Dūmanas added that foreign contracting companies will also be invited to take part in the public procurement.

Terminal expansion will not slow down airport operations