Thursday, August 10, 2006

A Sledgehammer To Crack A Nut?

It's not surprising that passengers have borne the huge delays at airports today with good humour. After all, given the choice between a large explosion on your plane and hefty delays at the airport, I know which one I'd choose. However, I can't help but feel that part of the reaction of the government is akin to using a sledgehammer to crack an admittedly large nut.

It's about time some restrictions were placed on hand luggage - increasingly it's been used as an excuse to up the baggage allowance rather than taking essential items for the journey. But the restrictions placed today by the Government seem to be excessive. Banning liquids and electronic devices makes a lot of sense. But why should people be prevented from taking a book, or a magazine or two on to a flight with them?

And perhaps more to the point, what's going to happen to all the shops after the security checks?