Fascinating report from the Canadian Senate (Standing Committee on National Security and Defence):
The Myth of Security at Canada's Airports (PDF 256pp 829KB)
From my limited experience (as SLF) I would be rather surprised if the situation was very much better in the UK/US/Europe - and these are probably among the
best places from a security viewpoint.
[The authors have a very witty turn of phrase, not often observed in UK parliamentary committees: "Plastic knives don't cut it"!]
Couple of quotes from witnesses:
“You take away a hat pin, you take away some nail clippers, and everybody leaves the airport saying “Oh, isn’t that wonderful, they are so zealous . . . we don’t have to worry. And it is all nonsense. Absolute nonsense.”
Aviation Company Owner
“The current status of airport security is not very good. I could take anyone in this room in two minutes and train you on how to put a bomb on an airplane for any city in the world. If you are willing to pay the first-duty shipping fee, we can guarantee what flight you will be on – it is that wide open.”
Chuck Wilmink
Former Corporate Security Manager, Canadian Airlines