Now we know what happens to your Security Taxes - the money goes back to the government when it fines the BAA for its queues!!!
BAA fined £1.1m for checkpoint delays
Frustrated airline passengers queuing at security checkpoints can console themselves with the knowledge that Britain's main airport operator is being fined more than £1m for keeping people waiting.
BAA, which operates seven British airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Edinburgh, yesterday admitted that congestion at checkpoints across the country had become far worse this year because of tighter rules on scanning electronic items in luggage.
The company has a target of getting 95% of people through security within 10 minutes. At Heathrow and Gatwick this target is enforced by the Civil Aviation Authority, reported The Guardian.
Although BAA achieved its benchmark last year, figures published yesterday revealed that BAA's performance has collapsed since the beginning of the year. At Heathrow's Terminal 4 just 47% of passengers got through within 10 minutes last month.
Shortfall
At other terminals, the figure ranges from 63-78%. The shortfall will mean a fine of £1.1m imposed by the CAA.
A BAA spokesman said the problem was down to a government rule introduced with little notice which requires travellers to remove laptop computers from their bags before going through security.
He said: "The change has had an impact on us. The queues are now going down - but these figures reflect the fact that they are quite long."
If too many electronic items are in a bag, the x-ray image becomes distorted. This is causing increasing difficulty as many travellers cram laptops, palmtops, iPods and mobile phones into their hand luggage.
There has also been a change in packing behaviour. Encouraged by low-cost airlines which levy a charge on hold luggage, travellers are carrying much larger suitcases into the cabin of aircraft.
BAA said it was recruiting an extra 150 security guards at Heathrow alone.