LONDON, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Many of the airport security measures demanded by the United States are unnecessary, British Airways' chairman told an industry group Tuesday.
Martin Broughton, speaking to the annual conference of the U.K. Airport Operators Association, said British authorities should not "kowtow to the Americans every time they want something done," the Financial Times reported.
"America does not do internally a lot of the things they demand that we do," he said. "We shouldn't stand for that. We should say we'll only do things which we consider to be essential and that you Americans also consider essential."
Other British officials, both in government and the industry, have said they are also frustrated.
Colin Matthews, head of the company that owns Heathrow International Airport, the world's busiest, told the newspaper many current practices were a response to specific incidents. He suggested starting with a "clean sheet of paper" to determine what makes sense.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond backs allowing companies to decide on specific procedures to meet outcomes set by the government.
