The 'checkpoint of the future' promises no stripping, no groping.

Imagine arriving at the airport, checking in for your flight and then strolling through a short, brightly-lit 'tunnel' for the mandatory security scan – without removing your jacket, shoes or belt, without taking your phone, keys or loose change out of your pocket, or removing your laptop and camera from your carry-on bag.

And definitely without the risk of potentially intrusive pat-downs. The 'checkpoint of the future', a high-tech tunnel developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), promises just that: virtually hassle-free airport security.

IATA's prototype signals the end of a "one-size-fits-all" security policy by funneling passengers into one of three tunnels, each six metres long and fitted with an array of scanners, liquid detectors and even eye scanners all concealed behind translucent walls.

Those who have passed government background checks head speedily through the 'known traveller' or frequent flyer lane. Those deemed an elevated risk walk through an 'enhanced' tunnel, where they might receive a fully body scan.

Everyone else, including most holiday-makers and infrequent travellers, goes through the 'normal' channel where their luggage is scanned, but where they should not have to remove any clothing or unpack any belongings.

The idea is to move from a system that finds bad objects to one that finds bad people. The intention behind the prototype is to replace an out-of-date security system designed four decades ago to stop hijackers carrying metal weapons.

The new system is designed to find "emerging threats" by amalgamating "intelligence based on passenger information and new technology", said IATA chief Giovanni Bisignani at the debut of the concept mock up.

The IATA says this risk-based approach would speed up the checkpoint process and lower airport costs "with no compromise on security levels", but it would still require governments to share data on their own citizens, which could pose a major hurdle to widespread adoption.

The design has some other weaknesses that would require addressing before any sort of roll-out, but these checkpoints could be in use within five years, noted Bisignani. However, he added that "we have the ability to move to the biometric scanning and three-lane concept right now".