It only takes a few minutes to take off your shoes and belt, but the economic damage is significant.

(NLĐO) – Every minute of delay in airport procedures, from security checks and baggage screening to immigration and customs, causes economic losses.

According to data from the Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority, in the first half of 2025, passenger traffic through airports reached 59.7 million. Prior to that, in 2024, the aviation industry served approximately 110 million passengers.

Assuming each person spends an average of 3-4 minutes on each procedure at the airport, from security checks and baggage screening to immigration procedures, the total wasted time could amount to 5.5-7.3 million hours. The GDP per capita in 2024 is 115 million VND.

If a worker works approximately 2,000 hours per year, the average value added per hour of labor is 57,500 VND.

Thus, the 3-4 minute delay has an economic value of between 2,875 and 3,833 VND per passenger.

When multiplied by the total number of visitors, the total societal waste amounts to approximately 316-422 billion VND per year, a considerable sum.

Notably, this only represents the direct loss due to wasted time, not including indirect costs such as flight delays, connection disruptions, increased operating costs, or lost business opportunities.

This requires authorities to prioritize the modernization of airport procedures in their policy of saving social resources and enhancing national competitiveness, in line with the reform and anti-waste spirit set forth by the Party and the State.

Why do we have to take off our shoes, belts, jackets, and hats? into the tray?

At airports worldwide , passenger security checks are an integral part of the flight process. This procedure typically adheres to international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) or national security agencies, ensuring that no threats to flight safety are overlooked.

Typically, passengers will have to present identification such as a passport or airline ticket, then proceed to the security check area. There, carry-on luggage is put through an X-ray or CT scanner, while passengers pass through a metal detector or full-body scanner.

To ensure effective detection of dangerous items, many airports require passengers to remove their shoes, belts, jackets, and hats, and place electronic devices in a separate tray for inspection. In some cases, passengers may undergo additional manual or handheld metal detector checks if any unusual signals are detected.

However, the shoe-removal and belt-unbelting regulations are being reconsidered due to technological advancements. A growing trend in developed countries is to eliminate these cumbersome regulations, especially as security screening technology has made significant strides.

Many have proposed abolishing the requirement to remove shoes, belts, hats, etc., during airport security screenings.

In the United States, a leading country in upgrading its aviation security system, the mandatory shoe-removal requirement at security checkpoints has been officially abolished since July 2025. Prior to this, the TSA PreCheck program in the US allowed passengers to be exempt from removing their shoes, laptops, or jackets, provided they had already undergone background checks and were deemed less high-risk.

In Vietnam, most international and domestic airports still require passengers to remove their shoes, belts, and place all electronic devices in a tray for inspection.

Although appropriate given the existing conditions and infrastructure, this regulation has often caused inconvenience to passengers, especially during peak periods when the volume of people passing through is high, leading to congestion at the inspection area.

How can we remove the shoe and belt removal requirement?

Should Vietnam gradually lift the shoe-removal and belt-unbuckling regulations, as some other countries have done? The answer is "Yes," but with the prerequisite that Vietnam invests heavily in modern security infrastructure.

Devices such as CT scanners (providing detailed 3D images), millimeter-wave scanners (which can detect foreign objects on a person without removing their shoes), and artificial intelligence in image analysis are tools that have helped many major airports around the world both speed up processing and ensure security effectiveness.

The application of these technologies helps passengers feel more comfortable when going through the security check area, while also enabling the handling of large volumes of passengers in a shorter time.

At many airports in Europe, passengers are no longer required to remove their shoes unless signaled by the screening equipment. The US, after more than 20 years of strict regulations following the 9/11 attacks, has also shifted its focus to prioritize passenger experience without compromising safety.

Vietnam should proceed with this in stages, first investing in modern equipment and providing thorough security personnel training, and then gradually easing requirements such as removing shoes and belts at major airports with sufficient technological investment and high passenger density.

However, it must be acknowledged that Vietnam has not yet widely deployed advanced screening technologies such as CT scanners or biometric verification systems.

Removing the current regulation requires a suitable alternative that does not jeopardize aviation security. Strict screening of all passengers, while somewhat inconvenient from a personal perspective, will ultimately benefit the overall safety of everyone.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/ton-vai-phut-coi-giay-that-lung-con-so-bat-ngo-ve-thiet-hai-cho-kinh-te-196250803145952132.htm