Calgary airport aiming to speed up screening process with new technology
Posted Mar 11, 2025 6:48 pm.
Calgary’s airport has announced some major changes to its screening process that could lead to shorter wait times for travellers.
The Calgary International Airport is aiming to speed up screening with construction underway to centralize all domestic security checkpoints at its terminals.
Airport officials hope the change will allow for a quicker and less stressful experience for passengers.
Each of the centralized security lanes will be equipped with CATSA CT X-Ray screening equipment. The technology is already being used in airports across Canada, including Calgary, where three lanes were installed at the airports international terminal in late 2024.
The new technology will allow passenger to leave electronics and permitted liquids inside their bags.
“With the existing lanes and security protocols, you take everything out of your bag,” says Chris Miles, the Calgary Airport Authority’s Chief Operating Officer. “So if your a family of four, you’re looking at multiple bins to take your liquids and laptop out.”
According to Miles, it’s a $50 million upgrade to the system.
A record 18.9 million passengers came through YYC International in 2024, and the airport expects passenger volumes will continue to increase.
“We expect the first lanes to finish by the end of this year, and we will then add another two lanes by the end of 2026,” says Miles. “We will create the space for four more future lanes.”
The airport says the current capacity for screening will be fully maintained during construction, so passengers won’t experience project-related delays during travel in 2025.
