Airport closures threatened

Small airport operators around the country fear they may be forced to close because they cannot afford the multi-million-dollar x-ray machines and 2.4m fences of the major airports.

They are nervously awaiting the outcome of a year-long review into domestic aviation security, initiated in February last year after two pilots were injured by a knife-wielding passenger on a flight from Blenheim to Christchurch.

The Ministry of Transport is due to deliver the review this week to its minister, Steven Joyce.

The ministry consulted airports, airlines and airline pilots' unions during its review, after the Cabinet asked for more information on the implications of new security measures on airports, airlines and passengers.

Those proposed security measures are worrying the operators of smaller airports who say the added cost could cripple them and make it more expensive for passengers to fly domestically.

To come up to the standard of airports that have full security - like Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and Dunedin - will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, they say.

Airports that take jet aircraft seating 90 or more passengers need security measures that include x-ray machines for baggage and passengers, security staff, and 2.4m high perimeter fences.

With one baggage X-ray machine costing several million dollars, smaller airports like those in Westport and Hokitika may not be able to afford to stay open - even though they are vital to the communities.

Ray Dumble, a board member for the New Zealand Airports Association and chief executive of Tauranga Airport Authority, said he hoped the ministry would consider the overall risk, which was low.

"A very small number of criminal incidents happen on aircraft every year," he said. "We hope they won't use a boulder to crush an ant."

Increased international screening was driven by terrorist incidents which happened overseas.

Airports such as Tauranga currently operate smaller planes, well under the 90-passenger requirement and so are unscreened.

If additional security measures were introduced the passenger would pay in the end, Dumble said.

"We are running a business and we've got a cost and we have to get a return on our investment."