Following the announcement by Home Secretary David Blunkett of his national ID card scheme, airline pilots have called for ID cards for airport workers.
The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) said all 180,000 airport workers should carry cards as part of a safety drive.
The union, which represents 8,000 pilots, said a number of companies gave out airside passes, causing 'confusion'.
"As pilots we have become increasingly concerned about safety and security in and around our airports, as well as in the air," said BALPA's chairman, captain Mervyn Granshaw.
"Never in the history of modern civil aviation have we been faced by such risk to security for such a long period."
Pilots, cabin crew, baggage handlers and check-in staff should have ID cards, based on fingerprints or eye details, he added.
The union said it could lead the way for a national ID card system and would be more effective than initiatives currently being investigated, including sky marshals or locked cockpit doors.
"If we are serious about security then the UK needs to invest in security, stop trying to do it on the cheap, and stop wasting our airlines' money on USA-imported initiatives which are of questionable value," said Mr Granshaw.
Published Tuesday November 18, 2003
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