Delays in French airports have become so problematic that industry officials are asking the government’s security agencies to relax measures. Air France-KLM chairman Jean-Marc Janaillac, in an interview with Reuters, revealed he had contacted several French authorities to request that they take firm and immediate action to modify or relax security measures. The request comes as travelers face increasing delays during the popular summer tourist season.
Having faced numerous terror attacks over the past two years, Paris has dramatically increased security measures throughout the city. This naturally extended to the capital’s nearby airports, which saw the addition of lengthy security checks conducted by both air and border patrol officers. The thorough checks, which sometimes require a wait upwards of two hours, have led to massive queues at Paris Orly Airport and Charles de Gaulle Airport, the largest of the country’s airports. The latter, located just north of the city, copes with significant daily traffic.
Janaillac has requested a number of urgent changes to help ease travel times during the summer, a lucrative and essential financial quarter for the industry. In addition to increasing the number of officers on patrol, the chairman also suggested that security forces further integrate facial recognition software, with the hope that automating at least some aspects of the process could help shorten wait times. He cited the success of such technologies in Amsterdam and London, two equally busy hubs for both regional and international flights.
Given how recently France has faced incidents of terrorism, their caution towards air travel is understandable. However, tourism is a major component of the country’s economy. Janaillac’s proposed temporary solutions are reasonable, as they will alleviate congestion without necessarily reducing the effectiveness of police and security agencies.
