Airport beefs up check-ins

The introduction of security screening operations at the Busselton Regional Airport went smoothly when the new processes came into effect on Sunday.

Busselton’s airport was upgraded to allow for checked-baggage screening, using explosive trace detection, passenger screening using walk-through metal detectors and carry-on luggage screening, in line with new legislation for commercial flights.

The Federal Government provided $197,761 for the purchase of three explosive-trace detection machines, one walk-through metal detector machine and four handheld metal detectors.

City of Busselton was issued the grant and contracted the services to an external company who employed five locally based security officers who have been trained in passenger and baggage screening.

The terminal has been upgraded to facilitate the services, with new security fencing erected around the airport. A security screening charge of $20 was introduced as part of the flight fare for all departing passengers, to help recover part of the cost of the new security implementation.

A discount is available to registered City residents which entitles them to a maximum of six return (or equivalent one-way) journeys per calendar year.

Commercial services manager Jenny May said the City did not envisage the process being overly burdensome for passengers.

“Security screening is part of modern air travel and most people accept and even welcome it,” she said.

Mrs May said commercial flight passengers should arrive at the airport 45 minutes before their scheduled departure time, to accommodate the security-screening process.