Non-Subscriber Extract
Spiralling UK airport security costs prompt request for government aid
18 July 2007
Security costs for UK airport operators have grown by around 150 per cent since the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks and they are continuing to rise
UK operators and industry bodies have asked the government to cover the spiralling cost of security at the country's airports in the wake of the 30 June attempted attack at Glasgow International.
Restrictions on hand baggage, liquids, aerosols and gels - in addition to the installation of more sophisticated screening devices and recruitment of extra staff - have seen security costs for UK airport operators grow by around 150 per cent since the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks.
Costs continue to rise, representing around 25 per cent of the income of major airports. Stansted - part of BAA's portfolio - has still not paid its policing bill from 2006, and Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has revealed that the cost of increased security and counterterrorism measures has cancelled out profits from Manchester; it claimed to have spent an extra GBP20 million (USD40 million) on security and hired 200 additional staff since the 7 July 2005 terrorist attacks on London's transport infrastructure, and warned that a private company cannot continue to fund security costs.