Security requirements at airport common departure lounges

This page contains information about the security requirements that airports will have to meet from 1 September 2009 if they operate common departure lounges.

To further strengthen the security of the United Kingdom border at airports that operate common departure lounges (allowing airside transit for international passengers who have not first cleared border controls), the UK Border Agency will designate all entry and exit points to the lounges as control zones under paragraph 26(3) of Schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971. We will require port authorities to comply with the conditions and restrictions necessary to implement the security improvements effectively.

We have published an impact assessment which sets out the background to this requirement. You can download the impact assessment from the right side of this page.