08.08.05
Passengers could face delays at Edinburgh airport, after security officers threatened a work-to-rule. The move comes days after peak-hour congestion at the fast-growing airport was blamed for figures which showed it suffered some of its worst-ever flight delays earlier this year.
Security staff at Edinburgh airport claim that they are being stretched to the limit by staff shortages. Security officers say that staff shortages have forced them to work large amounts of overtime and accept repeated shift changes.
Queues of passengers awaiting security screening prior to entry to departure gates are reported to have increased over the last few months. Further pressure has come with the heightened security state since last month's London bombings, with security at its highest level at the airport since the 9/11 attacks four years ago.
Sandy Smart, the regional industrial organiser for the Transport and General Workers Union, which represents airport security staff, confirmed that feelings were running high. He said: 'Staff have concerns and it is recognised there is a problem. Edinburgh airport is growing so fast there are doubts whether everything is in place to cope with it.'
BAA Scotland, which runs Edinburgh airport, admitted there were problems, but said it was recruiting extra staff. Malcolm Robertson, a spokesman for BAA Scotland, said: 'Edinburgh airport is growing much faster than anyone predicted. Seven security officers had left since June and replacements were being recruited and trained.'
'There are some queues, which is not ideal, but they are being addressed. There may be a short-term problem, which we are working hard to resolve,' he added.
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