A new X-ray screening machine that can detect explosives and liquids in hand luggage is to be introduced at Britain's main airports, it was announced today.

In a 10-year deal worth at least £20million, BAA is replacing all existing X-ray screening systems for hand luggage at its seven airports with the aTiX system from Smiths Detection - part of the Smiths Group.

The system, which stands for Advanced Threat Identification X-ray, will be installed at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

It is the first new X-ray technology at UK airports for a decade. The aTiX system uses computerised machines that take multiple views of a carry-on bag in the time it takes existing technology to show a single view.

Smiths Detection will also provide automatic tray return systems to minimise operator handling, speed the movement of non-threat bags and divert others down a separate channel for further investigation.

The company's managing director, Stephen Phipson, said: "This is an important contract that will have global implications for aviation security. BAA has taken a lead."

The announcement came as BAA today prepared to show off the new security system at Heathrow Terminal Five, which will open in six months. BAA security director Ian Hutcheson said aTiX would work alongside "the first application of the automated checkpoint system" at Terminal

Five. Mark Bullock, managing director of BAA Heathrow, said of the new X-ray machine: "It takes more views of the (inside) of the bag. It provides a much clearer image."

But he said time taken going through security would be about the same as staff also have to scrutinise passengers.

BAA hopes their investment will help persuade ministers to drop the restriction of one item of hand luggage for each passenger. Mr Bullock said only that " the signs are encouraging".

Meanwhile, Heathrow faces at least five more years of disruption as BAA bosses turn the heart of the airport into a huge building site. Demolition work on Terminal Two and the Queen's Building is scheduled to begin next spring. They will be replaced by a £1.5billion new terminal called Heathrow East, capable of handling 30 million passengers a year by 2012.

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