Incheon International Airport in Seoul, South Korea, has launched the world’s first remote baggage screening. The new system has been put in place to make travel to the US easier, with the cross-border system reducing bottlenecks on international to domestic connections.
The system currently operates on the Incheon-Atlanta route and allows US Customs and Border Protection to screen baggage remotely before passengers depart South Korea. This eliminates the need for baggage to be reclaimed and rechecked when arriving in the US, cutting connection times by as much as 20 minutes. Plans are in place to expand remote screening to additional destinations, including Detroit, Minneapolis, and Salt Lake City.
Developed by Smiths Detection, the SecurePort-IRBS-K system is compliant with security standards in both countries. Sunghoon Eom, Country Manager, South Korea, Smiths Detection, said:
The deployment of SecurePort-IRBS-K at Incheon marks a defining moment for the global aviation security industry. This is the first time a fully automated, DICOS-based baggage screening workflow has been executed between two sovereign countries. Incheon’s leadership and Smiths Detection’s vision made this milestone possible.
Cymoril Métivier, Global Digital Portfolio Director, Smiths Detection, added:
IRBS is more than a system – it is a blueprint for the future of aviation. By leveraging advanced digital connectivity, Incheon International Airport Corporation has shown how airports can eliminate friction points and redefine the international passenger experience.
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