Passenger security improvements are highlighted this week as the world resumes business travel after the holiday break. As the industry as a whole tightens security across the world’s borders, the question must be raised about the lengths airports are prepared to go to to improve security for personnel access when Atlanta airport admit that 150 guns were smuggled onto aircraft over a seven-month period last year.

A Delta Airlines baggage handler was involved in a smuggling operation that saw guns carried through secure areas of Atlanta Airport to find their way onto the streets of New York.

This clearly demonstrates that personnel access measures need to be tightened in order to ensure that passengers and crew are safe. Airport personnel should be screened in the same way as passengers, say the authorities, and airports should be encouraged to put security measures in place.

Airport security providers offer critical infrastructure protection across the board, and solutions are available to ensure that access control can be regulated throughout the airport environment – for passengers, airline staff and also for information security.

Passengers need the reassurance that staff are screened just as effectively as they are themselves and the instances of smuggling simply highlight the grey areas of airport security.