Shannon Airport security team expands to offer easy passenger experience

Pictured from L-R are the new Shannon Airport security team-Aaron McSweeney, Michaela Conroy, Colin McCloskey, Anne Fitzgerald, Brian Maloney, Head of Security John Francis, Jean Moloney, Aung Marma, Magdalena Gawron, Joe Kelly, Lina Cekanaviciena, and Darragh Tubridy.

Nine new recruits are the latest to join Shannon Airport’s security team

Shannon Airport has expanded its airport security team to bolster its commitment to providing an easy passenger experience.

The Shannon Airport security team has welcome nine new recruits who have received their official certificates after completing an intense training course in airport security.

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The new Airport Screening Unit (ASU) officers have undergone training, which includes how to operate the airport’s multimillion-euro state-of-the-art 3D x-ray screening system.

The high-tech system has in-built explosive detection software, that eliminates the need for passengers to separate liquids and electronics from their cabin bags. Shannon is the first state airport to introduce this new technology which halves the time spent going through screening. 

Since March this year, the airport has recruited a total of 19 ASU officers to add to the Shannon airport security team. The new recruits hail from Limerick, Clare, Galway, Lithuania, Poland, and as far away as Bangladesh and New Zealand.

Welcoming the latest nine recruits to the team, Shannon Airport’s Head of Security John Francis said, “I would like to congratulate our latest group of newly trained ASU officers and thank lead Instructor Jean Moloney who was supported by her colleagues, the screening supervisors, for the fantastic training they’ve given our new team members.

“We are committed to making our passenger’s journey at Shannon Airport, as easy as possible. The new recruits have undergone intensive training in all aspects of airport security to prepare them for this extremely important role, as we continue to invest in our screening process. 

“Our teamwork across the unit, from greeting passengers and checking boarding cards, to analysing x-rays of baggage on our highly advanced system and guiding passengers as they begin to go through the security process.

“They also work with our colleagues from US Pre-Clearance, at our combined US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint system. Shannon is the only airport in the world to operate this combined US/EU checkpoint system, again eliminating an additional step in our passengers’ journey.” 

The newly certified officers have been put through their paces during the training process, which includes both classroom-based and practical learning, followed by final examinations and certification by the Irish Aviation Authority.

ASU training covers a wide range of areas including, hand search of cabin baggage and of the person, screening of vehicles, identifying prohibited items, screening inflight and airport supplies, as well as customer service, reduced mobility, and familiarisation training in the airport’s special needs programme.

For more information on Shannon Airport security team, go HERE

For more stories on Shannon Airport, go HERE