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Airports report no extra delays after security tightened Airports report no extra delays after security tightened
(about 2 hours later)
Airports say heightened security measures are not delaying passengers, amid fears that US-led changes will lead to long waits.Airports say heightened security measures are not delaying passengers, amid fears that US-led changes will lead to long waits.
Britain's three biggest airports, Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, all reported business as usual and no additional waiting times, as France announced it would also be stepping up security.Britain's three biggest airports, Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, all reported business as usual and no additional waiting times, as France announced it would also be stepping up security.
Airports would not give details of the new measures. However, they are believed to involve adjusting the sensitivity of scanners. This means more items will trigger alarms, resulting in more body searches. Airports would not give details of the new measures. However, they are believed to involve adjusting the sensitivity of scanners. This means more items will trigger alarms, resulting in more body searches. More random searches of passengers are also expected.
Electronic devices are likely to come under greater scrutiny. Removal of belts, shoes, and other accessories, already commonly requested, is likely to become mandatory. Electronic devices such as smartphones are likely to come under greater scrutiny. Removal of belts, shoes, and other accessories, already commonly requested, is likely to become universal practice.
Further searches are likely at the gates of US-bound flights. While direct flights to the US are the main focus, enhanced screening will affect all passengers at airports with centralised security. Further screening and searches are likely at the gates of US-bound flights. While direct flights to the US are the main focus, enhanced screening will affect all passengers at airports with centralised security.
The Department for Transport has said the majority of passengers should not experience significant disruption and there had been no change to the threat level, which remains at "substantial".The Department for Transport has said the majority of passengers should not experience significant disruption and there had been no change to the threat level, which remains at "substantial".
France's aviation authority said the measures "will be carried out in a way to limit as much as possible inconvenience to passengers", but added that delays were possible The increased security is likely to have the greatest impact at Paris Charles de Gaulle, with 47 daily US flights The DfT refused to comment further but it is believed that airports operating solely European or regional routes will not be required to implement further measures, meaning busy holiday airports such as Luton or Stansted would be unaffected.
There are fears that Islamist radicals returning to Europe from the Middle East could be armed with new types of devices that can be carried on to a plane undetected. France's aviation authority said the measures "will be carried out in a way to limit as much as possible inconvenience to passengers", but added that delays were possible The increased security is likely to have the greatest impact at Paris Charles de Gaulle, with 47 daily US flights.
Reports say US authorities believe al-Qaida operatives in Syria and Yemen had joined to develop bombs that could be smuggled aboard. Previous unsuccessful attempts to bomb planes include devices smuggled on in shoes, underpants and inside the would-be bomber's body. There are fears that Islamist radicals returning to Europe from the Middle East could be armed with new types of bombs, so-called "artfully concealed devices" with less or no metal, that can be carried on to a plane undetected by existing technology.
Reports say US authorities believe al-Qaida operatives in Syria and Yemen had joined forces to develop bombs that could be smuggled aboard. Previous unsuccessful attempts to bomb planes include devices smuggled on in shoes, underpants and inside the would-be bomber's body.
While drugs are frequently carried through security inside the stomachs of "mules", airports do not have technology to screen people internally.
Reports from some passengers travelling through Heathrow suggested that items were being swabbed for explosives.
Philip Baum, an air security expert at Aviation Security International, said: "When the threat is heightened one, of the things that takes place is an increase in the number of random searches and secondary searches. We will see an increase in searches at the gates and the sensitivity of the technology."
However, he cautioned: "Whatever we do, we mustn't create long queues of people going through security or we simply create a new target."
He questioned the efficacy of intensified searches of the travelling public in general. "Practically speaking, I wish we would dispense with all of it and employ profiling because that responds to whatever threat you are looking for instead," he said.
Heathrow, which operates dozens of US-bound flights daily, said it not expect any disruption. Gatwick said: "The airport is operating business as usual and remains vigilant on all matters relating to airport security."Heathrow, which operates dozens of US-bound flights daily, said it not expect any disruption. Gatwick said: "The airport is operating business as usual and remains vigilant on all matters relating to airport security."
A Manchester airport spokesman said: "We ask that passengers leave enough time and arrive two hours before their flight to ensure that we keep the security process moving. July is a busy month for the airport and many passengers will be using services from Manchester over the next few weeks. Our security officers are on hand to give advice and we ask that passengers work with us so that we can ensure we get people to their gate on time, in a safe manner."A Manchester airport spokesman said: "We ask that passengers leave enough time and arrive two hours before their flight to ensure that we keep the security process moving. July is a busy month for the airport and many passengers will be using services from Manchester over the next few weeks. Our security officers are on hand to give advice and we ask that passengers work with us so that we can ensure we get people to their gate on time, in a safe manner."