European countries are resisting calls from the European Parliament for governments to take more responsibility for security funding.
Italian European Parliament member Paolo Costa is leading a push for European Union member states to pay for more stringent measures above those commonly agreed. Member states have so far rejected this and are also unhappy with proposals for risk-based assessments of security measures, arguing that they are too detailed.
The proposals will be discussed by transport ministers at their next meeting in Brussels in mid-October, but in the meantime efforts are underway to see if common ground can be reached.
Member states came under pressure to increase funding for security after 9/11, but they refused to give ground then also. The renewed calls for more contributions come as the airline industry is starting to work out the costs of the UK security scare in August.
The Association of European Airlines says one of its members estimates the emergency measures introduced by the USA would add up to €7.5 million ($9.5 million) per year if made permanent.
The European carrier most affected was British Airways, which was forced to cancel 1,280 flights out of London between 10 and 17 August and estimates the financial impact for the month of August at around £40 million ($75 million). This includes lost revenue and increased costs of hotel accommodation, catering and baggage repatriation. The carrier adds there has also been some impact on forward bookings. "The recovery of premium and non-premium transfer traffic, for example, is lagging due to the limitations on carry on baggage at London," BA says.
Ryanair, which is threatening legal action against the UK for its handling of the crisis, says it lost £3 million from cancellations and lost bookings over the week of 10-16 August. Easyjet, which cancelled 469 flights between August 10-14, says the cost of cancellations, passenger assistance and compensation over the period of the disruptions will be around £4 million, but is sticking to its guidance of 40-50% profit growth for the full year to the end of September.
UK airport operator BAA says it saw August passenger numbers fall 5% against forecast with a loss of revenue and incurred costs of £13 million for the month. This figure includes a number of "one-off" costs specifically related to the emergency security measures.
Some progress has already been made on common European standards, with agreement that all laptops should undergo a security check at airports. Regulations governing liquids are in the pipeline. The proposed rules would allow only essential medicines, baby food, duty-free items sold airside and a small volume of comfort and health items such as shampoo and toothpaste. Airports Council International-Europe said it welcomed the harmonisation measures. ■
Source: Flight International
