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Frequent travellers should be treated differently
The head of Sydney Airport Max Moore-Wilton yesterday outlined a two-tier system for airline passengers: one for those known to airlines as regular and safe passengers, and those who are unknown to airlines.
“I see no reason why regular flyers should be treated as if it’s the first time they’ve been to an airport,” said Mr Moore-Wilton, chairman of Sydney Airport Corporation.
Addressing the Focus on Business conference in Canberra, Mr Moore-Wilton said it was questionable whether the tripling of security costs at Sydney Airport – to $48 million a year – or the $US5 billion annual increase in global aviation security since September 11, 2001 were value for money.
He said balance was needed between security screening and “the relatively free flow of people”.
“When you went to the airport, there’d be a line for known travellers. You wouldn’t have to take off your belt or your shoes.
“This is not about profiling Muslims: it’s about people opting in to saying you can assess risk.”
Mr Moore-Wilton said his cost-cutting and time-saving proposal was akin to random breath testing. “You don’t stop everyone, because you know most have not had too much to drink,” he said. “We treat everyone as if they’re a potential terrorist. It’s dumb.”
A spokesman for the Transport Minister, Warren Truss, said the proposition had been informally discussed and would be further considered as part of the “constant review of aviation security”.
Graham Muldoon
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