More than one in four passengers dread the thought of having to walk barefoot at the security gates, but they won’t have to worry for much longer thanks to Luton’s upgraded scanners.
A survey of 2,000 adults revealed that a whopping 77% have had to take off their shoes at airport security, with a third feeling limited by their wardrobe choices when preparing for a flight.
Only 19% of travellers would dare to don boots at an airport due to the hassle of removing them, and 30% have previously shunned such footwear to make security checks smoother.
The study was commissioned by London Luton Airport, which has recently upgraded its security scanners, eliminating the need for passengers to remove shoes or worry about their outfit.
This also means that passengers can keep liquids and electronic items in their bags while going through security.
Neil Thompson, chief operations officer at the airport, expressed his delight: “We were delighted to become one of the first major airports in the UK to offer the benefits of next generation security to passengers ahead of what was a busy and successful summer at the airport.”
“This investment provides LLA with enhanced screening technology, significantly streamlining operations to ensure a simple, friendly airport experience for all of our guests.”
Interestingly, the research also found that a quarter of travellers consider footwear as the first item of clothing when deciding on their airport attire.
More than one in four (26%) of passengers dread the thought of having to walk barefoot at the security gates.
A good 20% of people feel embarrassed and self-conscious about the idea of revealing their feet during security checks, in case they have a hole in their sock. However, nearly half (46%) are thrilled at the thought of a more streamlined travel process.
