Pilots' fear over airport security

PARIS's two major airports are failing to detect potentially dangerous luggage items during security checks, a group of pilots has warned.

Air France pilots union SPAF says the outside contractors hired at Orly and Charles de Gaulle since 1996 to check passengers and their baggage are not equipped enough - despite being funded by a €9.50 tax hidden in the price of every ticket.

The group has raised its concerns just days after a man attempted to blow up a plane flying from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day. The French Interior Ministry has said it is stepping up security as a precaution.

SPAF president Gérard Arnoux told Le Figaro: "The United States still employs a number of well-trained civil servants to oversee airport security. Here in France, we have gone down the route of outsourcing the work to companies that hire young people.

"There are no guarantees about how well-qualified these security agents are. During busy times, there are not enough of them and it is difficult for them to keep a watchful eye on everything."

No official figures have been published revealing how many dangerous items make it on to planes. Air France staff feed individual reports back to management whenever a problem is detected, but the union wants the airline to make this information public.

The Interior Ministry said: "A lot of progress has been made in airport security, but the system can occasionally have faults because of human error."
The ministry has unveiled extra measures that it says will protect passengers. Airlines will be required to take a passport number and place and date of birth from travellers at the time of booking, whereas some companies currently do not require this until check-in.

This data will be better shared between countries and airlines will be fined if they fail to keep adequate records.

Photo:Mike Powell