(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Sidi Mohamed / The Peninsula
The Hamad International Airport (HIA) has emerged as one of the most secure and safest airports in the world thanks to state-of-the-art technology and devices introduced in the airport, a senior official said yesterday.
HIA is gearing up to implement its ambitious smart traveler system that will allow passengers to complete all procedures electronically. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recently ranked Qatar as one of the world's top countries in implementing civil aviation security standards.
Of the six million people who travelled through the Hamad International Airport (HIA) in the first quarter of this year, about 850,000 passengers used the e-gate service, which is now available for citizens and expatriates free of charge.
'There is an increase in the number of passengers who used e- gates during the first quarter of this year, which registered 850,000 passengers, that was achieved by the great efforts exerted by all bodies working at the airport, Col. Muhammad Rashid Al Mazroui, Director of Airport Passports Department said in a press conference yesterday.
Passengers pass through security screening at Hamad International Airport.
'The Department now has the latest systems in the process of checking the travel documents, through sophisticated devices which can identify any fraud attempts, including technological devices with high capabilities.
Also the database of the devices is constantly updated to keep pace with passports of all types and forms, Col. Muhammad Rashid Al Mazroui, Director of Airport Passports Department added.
Airport Security Department Director Brigadier Essa Arrar Al Rumaihi said that the Airport Security Department is working to complete its new vision by implementing the smart traveller system in cooperation with the authority of Hamad International Airport and the Airport Passports Department.
Once this system is implemented, the traveller will be able to complete all procedures electronically without the interference of any human element like passing the inspection devices, completion of travel procedures , weighing bags, issuance of boarding pass, use of e-gates and then boarding the plane. Passengers' security checks will be completed without the presence of security staffs.
'This system will make easier for the traveller to complete the travel procedures in a healthy atmosphere through sophisticated electronic methods, said the official.
He said Qatar has made a significant leap in the field of civil aviation security through the efforts of Airport Security Department, which has introduced a number of new inspection devices inside the airport.
Passengers pass through security screening at Hamad International Airport.
These devices have contributed to enhancing the security aspects inside the airport by facilitating the movement of passengers eliminating queues. They are being used for the first time in the world at HIA and are meant for screening and luggage searches and are linked to cameras to detect any obstructions with passengers. The airport security personnel were also trained on how to use and benefit from them, said Al Rumaihi.He added that department has so far trained more than 1,000 security personnel to learn all the security tasks inside the airport. It has also attracted Qatari citizens holding secondary school certificate and enrolled them in various courses of foundation, specialization and advancement.
The press conference was held to announce results of a report released by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which ranked Qatar as one of the World's top countries in implementing civil aviation security standards.
From Left: Col Muhammad Rashid Al Mazroui, Director of Airport Passports Department; Abdullah Nasser Turki Al Subaie, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority; Brig Essa Arar Al Rumaihi, Director, Airport Security Department; and Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer, Hamad International Airport (HIA), addressing the media at a news conference at HIA yesterday.
Chairman of Qatar Aviation Authority Abdullah bin Nasser Turki Al-Subaiei, Airport Security Department Director Brigadier Essa Arrar Al Rumaihi, and HIA Chief Operating Officer Engineer Badr Muhammad Al Meer were also present.
The results showed that Qatar scored 99.1 percent in applying the guidelines of annex 17 on Safeguarding International Civil Aviation against Acts of Unlawful Interference. Qatar also scored 96.76 percent in implementing safety management and a 100 percent in annex 9 on facilitation.
Al Subaiei commended the great support that the civil aviation system in Qatar receives from the Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Than and Minister of Transport and Communications, H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti which has made great impact on achieving noticeable position in the world that reflected in the results of the ICAO Universal Security Audit released in last February.
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