Airlines unhappy with government ID cards
July 4, 2008
Airline bosses have sent a strongly worded letter to the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. The letter is regarding the proposals to force airport workers to have ID cards from November next year. The big bosses said the plans were “unnecessary” and “unjustified”.
Under the requirements from the government proposals those working “airside” beyond the departure security checks and on the runway will have to have an ID card from next year. It is estimated that this will affect 200,000 airport workers.
The news has provoked a furious reaction from major airlines including chief executives Willie Walsh of British Airways, Steve Ridgway of Virgin Atlantic and Andy Harrison of EasyJet.
In the letter to the Home Secretary they wrote that forcing workers to have ID cards would not provide any additional security.
They wrote: “”Indeed, there is a real risk that enrolment in the National ID scheme will be seen to provide an added, but ultimately false, sense of security to our processes.”
They accused the Government of using aviation industry “for political purposes on a project which has questionable public support.”
“We believe most strongly that the enrolment of airside workers in the National ID Scheme is an unnecessary and unjustified extra initiative and that the priority for Government attention should be the improved efficiency of border processes which would result in a more reliable operation and better levels of service for the traveling public.”
A spokesperson from the Home Office said “The Government is working to ensure our borders and airports are secure.
“Biometric identity cards for airside workers lock identity to the individual providing far greater assurance of identity than currently exists within the aviation sector.
“Once identity is confirmed it is easier to verify who is being employed in sensitive roles and locations at airports, bringing benefits to employers and employees and reassurance to the public.
“A fully defined identity card scheme for airside workers is still being developed and we continue to work with and listen to the UK aviation industry and other airport employers.”
The letter was also signed and backed by the pilots’ union BALPA.
The first installment of the ID card schemes will see the cards being compulsory for non-EU nationals living in Britain this year and then airport workers and Olympic security workers from next year.
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