In a recent noteworthy sharing, Mr. Dang Hong Anh - Chairman of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association - estimated that each passenger has to spend 3 to 4 minutes on steps such as removing shoes, belts, watches or jackets, the total wasted time in a year can be up to more than 7 million working hours. If converted according to the current minimum hourly wage, the economy can lose nearly 150 billion VND each year just because of unoptimized procedures.
Meanwhile, he said many airports around the world have eliminated manual screening processes thanks to investment in modern screening technologies.
So what are the security procedures in each country? Are there any regulations regarding taking off shoes and belts when boarding an airplane?
The US officially abolishes the rule of taking off shoes during security checks at airports.
After nearly 20 years of application, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officially abolished the requirement for passengers to remove their shoes at airport security checkpoints.
Specifically, from July 9, passengers will no longer have to remove their shoes at US airport security checkpoints. This change is intended to improve the travel experience while ensuring safety, thanks to advanced security technology .
Although the rule will be the new standard procedure for most passengers in the future, said Kristi Noem, Secretary of Transportation Security Administration.
“The Transportation Security Administration will no longer require passengers to remove their shoes at security checkpoints. We are committed to ensuring both security and passenger comfort. With this new policy, we believe that residents, visitors, and those entering the United States will be very happy to no longer have to remove their shoes at the airport,” she shared with the press.
Noem said the change is the result of a review of the TSA’s security and screening procedures to determine what works. Passengers will still have to go through multiple layers of screening and identity verification before boarding a plane.
Speaking at Ronald Reagan Washington Airport, Ms. Noem emphasized that security technology has developed significantly in the past 20 years. TSA now operates a comprehensive security system, closely coordinating between competent agencies to ensure passenger safety and national security.
However, she said, in some cases, security forces may still ask passengers to remove their shoes for additional screening. TSA also confirmed that other security measures will remain in place, including identity verification, flight security data checks and standard procedures.
A passenger takes off his shoes before going through security at an airport in New York (Photo: Reuters).
Nicholas Calio, CEO of Airlines for America, welcomed the decision, calling it a major step forward in making air travel smoother, more seamless and safer for passengers.
Making security decisions based on risk assessment and leveraging advanced technology is a very sensible policy approach, according to Mr. Nicholas Calio.
“Sometimes it takes a while to take off and put on a child’s shoes. My daughter doesn’t always take her shoes off or put them back on. So this really saves us time and helps us get to the right gate,” said one American passenger after the policy was implemented. Previously, all passengers aged 12 to 75 were required to remove their shoes and scan them along with their carry-on luggage and personal items.
The Transportation Security Administration is also considering additional rules and procedures to simplify and speed up airport screening. Noem said the agency is testing separate lanes for military personnel and families with children, and expects to roll out additional changes in the next six to eight months.
Europe invests in CT scanner systems
In Europe, many major airports have also invested in CT (computed tomography) scanning systems for carry-on luggage. This technology creates detailed 3D images of the objects inside, allowing security staff to analyze them without requiring passengers to disassemble their luggage or pour out their liquids.
The European Commission said that airports in the bloc are gradually installing new scanning equipment, but that there will not be a wholesale change at all locations due to the high investment costs and strict technical certification requirements. The upgrade will be implemented in stages, depending on the financial and technical capabilities of each EU member state.
Experts say the application of new security scanning technology is an important step forward in increasing the efficiency of passenger checks without causing inconvenience.
Passengers remove their shoes during security checks (Photo: Shutterstock).
Several major airports in Europe such as Heathrow (UK), Schiphol (Netherlands) and Fiumicino (Italy) have begun testing and deploying new technology systems since 2023 and have shown positive results in terms of both safety and security check speed.
This move not only makes it more convenient for passengers to travel, but also demonstrates the EU's efforts to modernize its aviation security system to balance safety and enhance the travel experience.
However, EU officials stressed that security remains the top priority. The introduction of new systems will always be accompanied by a thorough risk assessment and any changes to regulations will be widely communicated to citizens and airlines in the bloc.
Singapore uses AI-integrated security control system
At Changi Airport, Singapore has invested in the Next-Gen Checkpoint system, using artificial intelligence (AI) and new generation sensors to replace the entire process of removing personal accessories, helping to process faster while still ensuring absolute safety.
Specifically, this airport has applied AI to the "Automatic Prohibited Item Detection System" (APIDS) project to automatically check carry-on baggage at Terminal 3.
The project aims to perform a preliminary scan of all carry-on baggage. Security personnel only need to re-check the bags and the system will issue a warning. This will significantly reduce security check time, while helping the airport reduce costs and use human resources more effectively.
Changi Airport representative said that the testing and development process of this project is still in its early stages. In the coming time, the project development team will continue to add input data, improve the efficiency of the system and gradually expand the testing.
At the same time, Changi Airport will also work with relevant state management agencies and international organizations to unify policies and regulations to officially apply this technology.
Passengers queue for baggage check at the airport (Photo: Shutterstock).
Previously, Changi Airport security staff had to manually check about 10,000 carry-on bags every day by eye, through image analysis from X-ray scanners. Experts said that this is a job that requires a lot of manpower with high expertise and is also very stressful and pressured.
According to information on the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website, from October 2024, the average time for a passenger to pass through the checkpoint has been reduced by 60%, from 25 seconds to 10 seconds. Initial results have demonstrated high efficiency and feasibility as processing speed increased by up to 50%, significantly reducing common errors during visual inspection.
Changi is considered one of the most modern airports in the world. It has continuously invested in technology, helping to reduce the time for procedures. Despite privacy concerns, Singapore believes that biometrics will shorten the immigration waiting time by 40%, as well as increase border security and improve the traveler experience.
Passport-free entry is part of a “new immigration procedure” that Singapore has long aimed to implement. By early 2026, 95% of visitors are expected to use the automated lanes, according to the ICA. The rest are often young children, the elderly or those requiring assistance.
Sumesh Patel, Asia Pacific President of aviation technology and telecommunications company SITA, predicts that 85% of the world's airports will use some form of biometric processing in the next 3-5 years.
Along with Singapore, similar systems are also being tested in China, the Netherlands and the US. Initial results have shown that they are feasible and highly effective. One study found that processing speeds could be up to five times faster than conventional procedures and that false alarms could be significantly reduced.
Experts also say whether passengers need to remove their shoes when going through airport security depends on each country’s regulations and risk assessment. Specifically, passengers in Canada usually do not need to remove their shoes, unless they are flying to the US or wearing shoes with metal parts.
In South America, passengers in Argentina and Brazil are generally allowed to keep their shoes on if the metal detectors don’t go off. In Australia and New Zealand, shoe removal depends largely on the construction of the shoe. Airports like Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland generally don’t require shoe removal unless the shoe has metal or a style that covers the ankle that requires a closer inspection.
In Japan and South Korea, this rule is also not mandatory, except in the case of oversized shoes or shoes with metal. Airports such as Dubai (UAE), Hamad (Qatar) or Abu Dhabi usually do not require shoe removal, unless there is a specific reason such as metal shoes or high heels. Here, the screening process prioritizes modern technology and randomly selects passengers for additional screening.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/coi-giay-that-lung-kiem-tra-an-ninh-san-bay-cac-nuoc-lieu-con-ap-dung-20250802012258581.htm
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