Budget airlines 'stretched by security measures'

Budget airlines have criticised new government measures to heighten security in the wake of last week's alleged terror attacks, with Ryanair stating that it is "struggling" to deal with the situation.

New hand baggage security restrictions, which limit the size of carry-on luggage to the size of a laptop and prohibit some liquids, have been condemned by Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary.

"We are still struggling with bizarre and unworkable security measures. The government's new measures today are going to create even greater confusion tomorrow," Mr O'Leary told Channel 4, adding: "We have got to restore air travel to normal."

The low-cost carriers are particularly vulnerable to any increases in turn-around times, as fewer turnarounds translates into less flights and lower revenues.

While passengers wait to pass through heightened security checks, the airlines incur extra costs.

David Bryon, an aviation industry consultant and former managing director of low-cost carrier Bmibaby told the Associated Press: "If you can't physically [work to tight schedules] because of passenger checks, you can't meet your turnaround timetable, you have to consider changing your schedule and costs rise."

Ryanair has been forced to ground a fifth of all its scheduled departures since the terror threats on August 10th.

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