Security queues may be unavoidable at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted this Easter and at peak times this summer despite airports operator BAA recruiting 900 additional security staff and expanding security areas.
BAA chief executive Stephen Nelson said he could not guarantee there would be no problems. “Will there be an end to marquees outside Heathrow at Christmas? I can’t guarantee that,” he said.
But he pledged 95% of passengers at Heathrow would be moving through security within five minutes outside of peak times this summer, when the number of additional security staff would hit 1400. Hitting the same target at Gatwick and Stansted would take longer, he said.
Nelson made the pledge with BAA facing a double referral to the Competition Commission. The Civil Aviation Authority was due to submit a review of its airport pricing regime this week, and the Office of Fair Trading is also expected to make a referral on competition grounds within days.
BAA argues a new pricing regime must allow charges high enough to pay for improvements. Nelson said: “We are ready to free the travelling public from congestion for a few extra pounds per passenger.”