Abu Dhabi Airports has announced the installation of a new automated tray return system (ATRS) to speed up the process of hand luggage screening at Terminal 3 in Abu Dhabi International Airport.

The new system allows for the processing of more than four times the number of baggage that conventional screening lanes do, reducing screening wait times and congestion, and providing a smoother travel experience for passengers, the airport operator said in a statement.

It added that unlike the conventional system that allows only one passenger at a time to load their belongings into the tray, the ATRS provides four stations at which travellers can simultaneously prepare their bags for screening.

The ATRS also has two buffer stations, seven redress stations for cleared trays, four reject stations for suspicious trays, and two search stations.

Any trays containing suspect belongings can be diverted to the search area for further investigation, away from the cleared lane.

Mohammed Al Katheeri, acting chief operations officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “We are constantly looking at ways that we can innovate and provide our passengers with a smooth, world class travel experience. The Automated Tray Return System with a remote screening feature in Terminal 3 at AUH, is the latest best-in-class addition to an array of technologies that we have put in place.

“We can now process more passengers per hour in a secure and controlled environment, improving overall operational efficiency and enhancing public safety and security.”