Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport has switched to a new inspection procedure. Checked baggage is now screened only after passengers drop off their suitcases at the check-in counters.
The Multi-View X-Ray scanners have been moved to the restricted area of the registered baggage screening point (HBSCP), so there is no longer a 'bottleneck' of people with suitcases at the entrance to the international terminal—the flow is immediately directed to the check-in counters.
Acting airport director Wahyudi explained that the changes are mandated by Ministry of Transport order No. KM-39/2024 and the updated ICAO Annex 17, which require 100% inspection of baggage using multi-angle scanners. This system has already proven itself in the domestic terminal: it speeds up passenger flow without compromising safety and keeps the average waiting time at the screening line within seven minutes, even during peak hours.
The process has essentially become two-tiered. Suitcases are immediately sent for in-depth scanning in a closed gallery, while passengers go through familiar carry-on baggage and metal detector checks only after check-in. The rules for carrying liquids, electronics, and other items remain unchanged: suspicious items are still subject to additional inspection.
The innovation was implemented just before the high season: in April alone, over two million people passed through Bali airport. The administration expects that eliminating scanners at the entrance will ease congestion at the terminal even during the busiest hours.
For tourists, the main change is felt physically: there is no longer a need to lift suitcases at the terminal doors—they are collected directly at check-in, making the path to the departure zone shorter and more relaxed, while the reliability of the checks remains the same.
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