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Airlines mock choice of BAA to advise on 2012 security
Bo Wilson28.08.08
Airlines have ridiculed a decision to appoint BAA as security adviser to the 2012 Olympic Games.
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.
Reader views (4)
Tony (Ball) (ODA board member) was Chief Executive of British Sky Broadcasting (1999-2003) and a former non-executive director of BAA plc.
- Graeme Clark, Worcester, Worcs
And of course lets not forget that BAA will advise to leverage capacity to danger levels and then loose your gym kit - in a period of competition enquiries and huge controversy with Ruth Kellys attempt to get a job in aviation when she looses her seat at the next election you would have thought we should all be crying fowl of this 'too close' working relationship. I am not allowed to see ministers as to do so would bias the result - I have a letter stating this - but BAA can slime all over government - a police enquiry is what is needed here - the stench from the DoT and NuLabour on this is really getting bad.....
- Christian Ball, London, UK
Ten minutes in the queue but 20 minutes to join the queue?
- Warren Alexander, London, UK
The ODA are also getting Beverley Allit and Harold Shipman to man the first aid tent.
- Squiz, Islington
