Bratislava Airport Introduces Special Detectors and Security Measures

Bratislava, March 24 (TASR) – Passengers who are set to travel via Bratislava airport should be prepared for new security measures that were introduced on Thursday due to the terrorist attacks in Brussels on Tuesday (March 22).

Travellers will be checked upon arrival at the main airport hall via special detectors. Airport representatives can’t rule out the possibility that passengers may have to come to the airport earlier than normal because the new security measures might hold them up.

The new measures will be valid until further notice, but they could be put in place permanently, said M.R. Stefanik Airport general director Ivan Trhlik at a briefing in Bratislava on Thursday.

“Bratislava airport is one of the first EU airports to introduce a whole set of security measures, most of which will remain secret from the travelling public. Such measures have never been activated at this airport before, but the current security situation requires it,” said Trhlik.

There are now only single routes for entering and exiting the airport. “That means one way in and one way out,” stated Trhlik, adding that these measures were prepared long ago and that the airport pondered putting them into practice after the terror attacks that took place in Paris on November 13 of last year. Trhlik added that the airport is quite capable of managing incoming and outgoing flows of passengers when compared to other larger EU airports.

Despite the boosting of security measures, the airport isn’t considering raising its charges. “It [security] is one of the basic duties of any airport,” emphasised Trhlik.

People not travelling via Bratislava airport should think twice about visiting it, however, said Trhlik.

The Belgian capital was hit by several explosions on Tuesday. The blasts targeted Zaventem airport and Maelbeek metro station, which is located near EU institutions. The terror attacks claimed the lives of at least 31 people, while around 260 were injured.