U.S. authorities allay fears of travel dip due to stricter security checks

U.S. authorities allay fears of travel dip due to stricter security checks

Aviation security officials and the the Department of Homeland Security have downplayed the effect of stricter airport screenings on air travel, saying that the security measures are needed to thwart terror attacks like the one made recently.

Pilots, passengers, and some travel industry observers said that the additional checks employing body scanners and pat-downs may irritate travellers who may choose to lessen trips as seldom as possible. Privacy groups also assailed the tighter screenings as “invasive” and violate the basic rights to privacy.

U.S. officials have said that the measures would help detect bombs concealed in clothing and packages like the ones that were carried by U.S. cargo planes.

The Transportation Security Administration received the first complaints from airline pilots who objected to being made to go through the new body scanners and more aggressive pat-downs. They also relayed their concerns about the health risks posed by the scanners since they go through them repeatedly.

Travel industry representatives together with hotel and online travel site managers have met with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to discuss how the new measures are being implemented with the travel business industry in mind.

After the meeting, the industry officials expressed some dissatisfaction. “The meeting with Secretary Napolitano was informative but not entirely reassuring,” Geoff Freeman, vice president of the U.S. Travel Association, said in a statement. We understand the challenge DHS confronts but the question is where we draw the line.”

Privacy organizations have filed a lawsuit against the federal government charging that the body scanners violate privacy rights and must be considered illegal.

Posted by Sophia Andrews on Saturday November 13 2010, 7:17 AM EDT. Ref: MSNBC. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Travel. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0