Frankfurt Airport (FRA) has switched all 50 CT scanners in Terminals 1 and 2 to APIDS (Automatic Prohibited Item Detection System) after a two-year trial with the German Federal Police and the European Union.
By overlaying artificial intelligence software on the Smiths-Detection CT scanner, APIDS allows carry-on bags to remain closed while algorithms flag knives, firearms, detonators, and other threats for secondary inspection. Alexander Lokenman, a member of Fraport’s board of directors, said early data shows a 12-15% increase in lane throughput during peak morning business travel and a significant reduction in false alarm rates. The upgrade is part of a €50 million modernization package that began when Fraport took over operational management of passenger testing in 2023.
For corporate mobility managers, this change could lead to lower minimum connection times at Germany’s busiest gateways, reduced risk of missing short-haul shuttles, and improved passenger experience metrics on the duty of care dashboard. The Federal Ministry of the Interior’s accreditation standards currently serve as a reference model for other EU airports, with a similar development likely to occur in Munich or Berlin within the next 18 months.
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Travelers should still allow time for staff to get used to the new workflow, but Fraport and police insist that no additional privacy data will be saved and only flagged X-rays will be saved for quality assurance audits. Airlines are already adjusting crew reporting times in anticipation of faster staff testing, while FRA’s ground handling subsidiary expects to redeploy agents from on-call duties to airside positions during peak periods.
