What is happening and why?

As air travel recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, airport security areas must once again be able to manage large passenger volumes. Fit-for-purpose equipment and procedures are required to meet the strict security regulations and standards that all airports in the British Isles are mandated to follow.

Security scanning technology regulations are continually developing, evolving and enhancing globally. Airports around the world are investing heavily in new screening technology to ensure the ongoing safety and security of passengers and aircraft.

Guernsey Airport will be refreshing its technology in the security area to continue meeting this challenge and taking advantage of the opportunities new technology can bring. This aims to meet passenger needs and adapt to the ever-changing and evolving security processes that all airports in the British Isles must follow.

Construction work is now underway with the first of two new scanners now installed. The target completion date for this project is early July 2022.

What benefits will this project bring for passengers?

Once completed, overall processing times for passengers going through security are anticipated to shorten, reducing queues at peak times. Several innovative technologies are being introduced to achieve this aim.

Developments such as a ‘tray return’ system used at UK airports for hand luggage items will be introduced for the first time at Guernsey Airport. This system will reduce the hand contact of trays and reduce noise levels in the security area.

Another innovation will be the introduction of a shoe scanner. This will allow passengers to keep their shoes on if they are selected to be scanned, unlike at present, where passengers have to remove their shoes and have them security screened with their hand luggage items.

This will improve the efficiency of the process and reduce passenger inconvenience. Existing arrangements for passengers with disabilities, those who cannot stand unaided and those using Special Assistance will not change.

Whilst redevelopment work is taking place, contractors are carrying out upgrades to improve the lighting, air conditioning and other support systems the security area requires.

How much time should I allow for security?

Whilst these works are taking place, all passengers should allow extra time to pass through security, particularly at peak times and factor this requirement into your journey planning. This is to ensure an on-time departure of your flight. During the project, excluding the 2022 May school half term, only one security lane will be in service. This is due to space restrictions in the terminal.  

If you are an Aurigny passenger, Guernsey Ports strongly encourages the use of its Twilight Check-In service. This is to streamline your early morning journey. The Airport anticipates longer queuing times to enter the security screening area, especially during the morning and evening peak times. The airport greatly appreciates your patience during this period of disruption and apologises for any inconvenience caused. Longer-term, we are confident that this project will significantly benefit passengers.

Guernsey Ports recognises that any reconfiguration work in the terminal can be disruptive for passengers. Once installed and operational, the new scanning equipment should improve the flow of passengers going through security.

Anyone from outside the Bailiwick of Guernsey wishing to travel between 22 March 2021 and 30 April 2021 will currently be subject to a mandatory 14 days of self-isolation on arrival in Guernsey, Alderney.

For full guidance on on self-isolation and other aspects of travel please visit the States of Guernsey's website. 

In line with guidance agreed with the States of Guernsey's Public Health Services team, passengers must continue to wear face masks at all times in the following circumstances. 

• Arriving into Guernsey and onto their self-isolation address.

• Whilst transiting through the Guernsey Airport passenger terminal building and waiting for a flight conection to Alderney. Alderney bound passengers must immediately proceed to check in, through security to the designated seating area provided in departures.

• All passengers must wear a face mask or a face covering when entering the terminal building in both Guernsey and Alderney Airports for departing flights.

Passengers travelling into or out of the Bailiwick of Guernsey must follow these requirements.

Advice on picking up passengers before they embark on self-isolation can be found here.

There no longer a legal requirement to hold an essential travel permit from the States of Guernsey.

To secure an Essential Travel Permit, travellers who are an ordinarily resident need to fill out an online form by clicking here.

Those travellers who are not ordinarily resident of the Bailiwick of Guernsey will need to complete this online form by clicking here. 

Provided a journey meets the criteria, passengers will receive a permit within 48 to 72 hours by the States of Guernsey.

Passengers will need to have this permit before they travel as they may be asked to show it at the point of departure and/or upon arrival in the Bailiwick.

Passengers arriving into the Bailiwick will also need to create a Travel Tracker account and register their journey. The only exemption to this is intra-Bailiwick flights. 

If your travel is disrupted and you need to amend your travel history you can go online to the Travel Tracker and register a new journey. On the day of travel your updated journey will be at the top of the list of planned journeys.

Those travelling as critical workers are treated are treated separately and do not need an Essential Travel Permit, but they must apply for permission to travel through the existing critical worker application process by clicking here.

Alongside the Essential Travel Permit, the detail of what is considered essential has been reviewed further by the States of Guernsey. As well as critical workers, essential travel is considered to mean:

• for a compassionate purpose (including but not limited to supporting a dependent relative),

• to receive medical treatment,

• to accompany a child or vulnerable person into or out of the Bailiwick,

• to undertake essential business activity which is critical to the business and cannot be carried out remotely,

• to meet legal obligations such as attending court proceedings,

• to attend or return from school, university or other further education,

• for anyone ordinarily Bailiwick residents, to return home if they travelled off-Island before the 12th January,

• moving to the Bailiwick where a property has been purchased and the process of moving is already underway,

• to take up employment where the position has already been secured with a local employer or where the work is essential.

Essential travel does not include travel:

• to visit friends and family based in the Bailiwick,

• to work remotely in the Bailiwick if that work is not critical work and approved through the critical worker application process,

• to stay at a ‘second home’ where the person is not ordinarily resident in the Bailiwick.

Those who travel with an Essential Travel Permit will still be required to adhere to all of the Bailiwick’s other travel restrictions including self-isolation and testing rules further information on these can be found by clicking here.

Further information access arrangements, pick up advice and Critical Worker Travel can be found on the home page main menu of airport.gg under 'COVID-19'.