Airlines mock choice of BAA to advise on 2012 security

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The Olympic Delivery Authority has decided to use the Spanish-owned airports operator to help it in its selection of security equipment and in dealing with crowds.

However, airlines were surprised by the choice and said that BAA's handling of its airports - including Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted - has resulted in long queues and substandard service and, over the last two years, lengthy delays with security arrangements.

Virgin Atlantic told The Times: "BAA will certainly have plenty of knowledge about queues to share with the 2012 organisers. The British have almost perfected it as an Olympic sport."

Ryanair added: "If BAA has been appointed security advisers for the 2012 Olympics, the athletes will be lucky to get in by 2013. It will take at least six months for BAA to clear people through security."

It is thought BAA's work for the ODA is informal and unpaid. The operator has hired an extra 1,500 security staff at its airports and says the investment has resulted in 100 per cent of Heathrow passengers waiting less than 10 minutes in a queue. However, the Competition Commission criticised the way BAA collected its data for this claim.

The Olympic authority will start recruiting companies next month to cover all aspects of the Games.

Defence company BAE Systems has said it is interested in working with the ODA.