Airlines likely to become vocal over security costs - claim

Airline Industry Information, Dec 14, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Airlines are reportedly preparing to apply pressure to governments to pay more towards enforced anti-terror measures.

According to industry sources, airports and airlines are likely to become increasingly vocal in the coming weeks as they take the view that they cannot take on the full costs of the security forever. Some signs of the discontent in the industry were shown by AEA (the Association of European Airlines), which has said that terrorism is aimed at governments and not at the aviation industry and requires a joint front from the industry and governments, including a responsible funding policy, Reuters reported.

According to estimates the industry has mounted up losses of some USD30bn between the 11 September 2001 attacks in the United States and the start of 2004, with some airlines affected worse than others.

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