Hand luggage may be history

Hand luggage may be history

By Campbell Gunn

AIR TRAVEL will never be the same again following last week’s arrests in England, it was revealed last night.The Government is working on a plan to establish long-term security measures at every airport.The current security level will be maintained for the foreseeable future, but even after the current crisis is over the levels of security will be greater than ever.Transport Minister Douglas Alexander is heavily involved with officials in the plan for future airport security.“It won’t be as draconian as now,” a spokesman explained. “But we won’t go back to what it was before.”More thorough airport searches, baggage screening and the end of hand luggage being carried onto planes is expected to be the outcome of the study.‘Critical’Security levels at airports remain at “critical”.Yesterday, Scotland’s airports had virtually returned to normal operation, with just 10 flights cancelled at airports run by BAA Scotland, which operates Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen. Restrictions on visitors entering Glasgow Airport have been lifted.However, there were still long queues for check-ins, as passengers were searched and hand luggage had to be checked in.SNP leader Alex Salmond has written to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott asking why Prestwick was considered suitable for the refuelling of US armament flights to Israel, when the threat to planes was already known by the security services.“We now know that the police and security services had been investigating an alleged bombing plot affecting flights from UK airports,” Mr Salmond said.“We also know that security at Prestwick is limited even in comparison with other civilian airports and that the use of the airport for refuelling would inevitably attract substantial publicity. Yet despite this, these flights were sanctioned for some days before their transfer to more suitable military bases.”ReliefThe decision to allow passengers to take goods bought from duty free shops on to planes has come as a huge relief to airport retailers who had feared a dramatic drop in sales following the ban on hand luggage.The rules have been eased to allow any items bought in the departure lounge to be carried on to planes. However, US airlines have maintained a ban on liquids on flights bound for America.Aviation writer Jim Ferguson has also warned that the alleged plot to blow up transatlantic jets could permanently change the passenger experience.The Aberdeen-based journalist said, “Passengers are going to have to check-in earlier. And what does all this mean for checking-in small, high-value items? The average businessman catching the 7 am shuttle to London and the 6 pm return flight travels with only a laptop and a mobile phone.“Now they’re going to have to check them in, but what steps will be taken to make sure these items aren’t just tossed into the hold with other luggage?”