The industry has called for a review of airport security ahead of a commemoration for the 3,000 people who died in the September 11 terrorist attacks 10 years ago this week.
Airline association Iata said enhanced security had “come at a great price” and governments should “foot the bill”.
It put the cost to carriers at £4.6 billion a year and said the time had come to “remove the hassle between check-in and boarding”.
Mike Greenacre, managing director of The Co-operative Travel, told Travel Weekly: “It is time for a review of security and some standardisation across the world to make the process less painful for passengers who just want to get from A to B. Measures are often inconsistent.”
In fact, many of the current measures followed later attempts at attacks, such as the foiled ‘liquid bomb’ plot at Heathrow in August 2006.
Heathrow owner BAA this week announced plans to test privacy-friendly scanners following the growing use of full-body scanners. However, the US Department of Homeland Security has warned there will be little relaxation because “aviation remains a target”.
The UK opted out of an EU move to relax restrictions on liquids carried by transfer passengers in April.
After the September 11 attacks, US airlines suspended flying and US passenger traffic fell 5.9% in 2001, not stabilising until 2003.
However, the impact on passenger numbers elsewhere was minimal. Air travel in Germany, France and other European markets was already declining due to recession, while traffic in the UK continued to increase. Iata estimates airlines lost 6% in revenue following September 11. They lost 14% between 2008 and 2009.
The 2001 attacks saw US president George Bush declare a War on Terror which led to war in Afghanistan and the invasion of Iraq.