FEARS have been raised about airport security at remote airports after it emerged bag and body searches are being stopped at Tiree, Barra and Campbeltown airports.
The Prospect union said that the changes made by Scottish Government-owned Highlands and Islands Airports from January 30 “could leave Scotland’s major, strategic assets vulnerable to attack”.
Current perimeter patrols and hold luggage checks will remain, but mail will no longer be screened, the union said.
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The decision signed off by the UK and Scottish secretaries of state for transport and the Civil Aviation Authority, puts ten part-time jobs at the airports at risk.
Prospect negotiator David Avery said: “Prospect believes this change is unreasonable and disproportionate and puts staff and passengers at risk. “ Each airport currently runs one flight a day in and out of Glasgow every day.
A HIAL spokesman said passengers would still have to undergo security procedures at Glasgow Airport, that the move was taken following an “in-depth review” and that it would “improve the passengers experience for passengers”.
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But Prospect say there was no Parliamentary scrutiny and has called on HIAL to delay the decision to allow full consultation with users and staff.
Prospect negotiator David Avery said: “Prospect believes this change is unreasonable and disproportionate and puts staff and passengers at risk.
“The current regime of security checks was introduced more than ten years ago and has been largely successful.
“But despite the long-standing rules, security staff regularly find passengers carrying prohibited liquids, small knives and in extreme cases, firearms ammunition.”
They claimed HIAL conducted a risk analysis based on the size of the aircraft and deemed the risk to be low.
But Avery pointed out that any aircraft, regardless of size, is a potential risk when flying near urban areas.
“The flight path into Glasgow is close to nuclear power facilities at Hunterston; the large oil terminal and facilities at Finnart on Loch Long and Ministry of Defence establishments at Coulport, Faslane and Glen Douglas.
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“Lowering security at Highlands and islands airports could make these sites, and the airports themselves, far more likely to be potential targets.
“We are also concerned about the equalities impact of returning to individual passenger searches and of course about our members’ jobs.
The union said that HIAL says it will offer voluntary redundancy or redeployment to other duties and protect salaries, but could not guarantee that hours will be maintained.
Staff were offered voluntary redundancy on terms similar to the 2012 Civil Service Compensation Scheme terms, but without the option of taking an early pension.
Prospect believes the decision to introduce alternative security measures was triggered by the Scottish Government’s five percent cut to HIAL’s budget. Changes to the Civil Aviation Authority’s role as both a safety and economic regulator was also a factor, it said.
“No other airport has suggested making changes like this – indeed the trend has been for more rigorous checks over recent years,” concluded Mr Avery.
HIAL described the move as a "streamlined check-in process" at their departure airport ahead of their flight.
“The new measures, agreed with the CAA and DfT, are proportionate, and take full account of safety and security," said a spokesman.
“Customers transferring to onward destinations will be required to reclaim their luggage, check-in and join the existing security procedures at Glasgow Airport.
“The move follows an in-depth review of the security procedures at each of the airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Department for Transport (DfT). The new measures have been designed to improve the general passenger experience for passengers travelling to Glasgow, whilst maintaining appropriate security standards.
“As is the case currently, items on the prohibited articles list displayed at check-in points at the airports involved may not be carried on any aircraft, and the teams at each airport will assist passengers with any questions on the new procedures.”
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