Sky high cost of security

Regional airports could be forced to install millions of dollars worth of security and passenger measures if recommendations in a domestic aviation security review are adopted by the Government.

The Ministry of Transport interim review, obtained by the Herald on Sunday under the Official Information Act, recommends security measures should be upgraded in the country's 14 busiest airports, for all passengers departing on aircraft of 19 or more passenger seats.

The additional security measures would mean 97 per cent of passengers were screened, compared with 55 per cent now.

The aviation security review follows the alleged hijacking of a 19-seat aircraft by a knife-wielding passenger on a flight between Blenheim and Christchurch in February last year.

Security measures, including screening of passengers, crew and luggage, are already in place at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, Palmerston North, Hamilton and Rotorua, but are only required for jets with more than 90 passengers.

The report recommends Tauranga, Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth, Nelson, Blenheim and Invercargill Airports be added to that list and that passengers on aircraft with 19 or more seats be screened.

Costs to the Crown and to the airports involved have been deleted from the report sent to the Herald on Sunday but industry sources say the cost will be tens of millions of dollars.

Ray Dumble, a board member for the New Zealand Airports Association, said the cost of the security upgrade would inevitably be passed on to passengers.

Another board member, Geoff Eban, general manager operations for Christchurch Airport, said the industry was worried about an "over-reaction" in terms of any security upgrade.

"Some increases in security sound okay to the layman but they can have implications in terms of cost to the industry.

"We are hopeful there will be a reasonable outcome."

Last year the Cabinet asked for more information on the implications of the new security measures and a final review was delivered to Transport Minister Steven Joyce last month.

A spokeswoman for the minister's office said the report would go before Cabinet in the next few weeks for a decision.

Opponents of the recommendations fear the cost involved will cripple parts of the industry and push ticket prices up.

Both Treasury and the Ministry of Tourism say the proposed increased security is "out of proportion with the level of risk."

Air New Zealand, which charters many of the smaller aircraft operating at regional airports, is also concerned an increase in ticket prices will reduce the viability of services in smaller regions.

The Ministry of Economic Development says a review of New Zealand's domestic aviation security is important if the country is to host events like the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

The MED says the hosting of these events could increase the threat of a terrorist attack.

DANGEROUS GOODS
The Aviation Security Service (Avsec) provides all aviation security services at New Zealand airports, at a charge of $4.66 per departing passenger - a charge which is passed on to passengers in the ticket price.

Currently only passengers on aircraft with more than 90 seats are screened.

Last year, from international and domestic passengers, Acsec confiscated:
* 3400 blades (over 6cm)
* 2050 pairs of scissors
* 13,000 dangerous goods (including inflammable liquids and gas canisters)
* 84 firearms (including parts)
* 48 explosives (including fireworks)