Launceston Airport general manager Paul Hodgen said the order had been placed for a second x-ray machine – expected to arrive in November. 

“Last summer we had extensive queues on busy peak hours, the intention is that the second machine would be resourced and activated to cover peak periods,” he said.

He said the airport is also in the process of investigating an electronic sign at the front of the terminal – designed to reduce waiting time for passenger pickups.

The sign will be located between the second and third roundabouts so drivers can turn around without having to park their car. 

Mr Hodgen said last summer there were occasions where passengers were waiting in security for 30 minutes, and he hoped the machine would facilitate a goal of an average of 10 minutes waiting time. 

He said one of the key issues was congestion, with airline services clustering their flights together.

Mr Hodgen said if airlines released their passenger numbers a week in advance it would help the airport manage the security roster. 

He said that security charges are levied by the airline on the passenger tickets, but are reluctant to incur the outlay of manning a second lane. 

Mr Hodgen said it damages their reputation if people are waiting too long.

“We’re always pressing the airlines to do that – to spread their schedules, but they’re driven by commercial requirements,” he said.

“I’d love to have known last week that we were going to see 100 per cent load factor on every flight, because then we’d know if we need to put extra staff.” 

A Jetstar spokesperson said there was some commercially sensitive information traditionally not shared between airports and airlines.

Mr Hodgen said other new features at the airport included Virgin Australia’s new four times a week freighter service on the Launceston to Melbourne route. 

Earlier in the year, Qantas announced it would introduce a 110-seat Boeing 717 service between Launceston and Melbourne for the busy summer period.

Mr Hodgen said the busiest month this year was January – which saw a total of 134,679 passengers, and if growth continued at previous rates he expected more than 140,000 passengers over January 2017.