A full-body scanner that allows security staff to see through clothing, rather than do a physical search, is coming to St. John's International Airport.

A federal security official told CBC some travellers would welcome it.

"Passengers often don't like the physical search now with that new technology an option is now available for the full body scanner rather than the physical search," said Mathieu Larocque, spokesperson for the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority.

Larocque says the authority still is figuring out exactly where the scanner will go at the airport. As soon as that's done, installation and training will begin.

The new scanners cost about $250,000 each.