MPs warn of airport checks terror risk

Heightened security checks could make airports more of a target for terrorists, MPs have warned.

The time spent checking-in needs to be sped up so people are not forced to queue for long periods, the House of Commons Transport Committee said.

Additionally, a report by the committee said passengers continually breaching carry-on luggage restrictions is causing concern.

The MPs said Professor Alan Hatcher of the International School for Security and Explosives Education, and Michael Todd, the Greater Manchester chief constable, had "both pointed out to us in October 2006 that lengthy queues in check-in areas presented a significant security threat".

The committee had been told: "We have lines of people in terminals now, 200, 300 people in a queue. Your bag is not searched when you go in or out. You can take 23kg of baggage with you and 23kg of ammonium nitrate mix would...make a good impact."

The report continued: "This was illustrated starkly by the recent car attack on Glasgow airport. Moving passengers more swiftly through to airside will, in itself, reduce the threat to the travelling public."

It added: "Speeding up check-in-times and reducing the security queue should be a priority for airports and airlines."

The committee's chairman Gwyneth Dunwoody MP said: "Because of the necessary measures that are now in place, passengers are finding it more uncomfortable and time consuming to begin their journeys.

"Security is the issue which currently has the most significant impact on passengers' experiences of air travel.

"In 2005, 228 million passengers travelled through UK airports. The Government anticipates this will rise to between 400 to 600 million by 2030.

"Passengers need to enjoy their air travel if airports and airlines are to get a growing share of the market. However we are clearly in trouble if our citizens are not buying in to national security policies."

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