How has Lyon's security budget changed over the last four years? How much is currently funded by passengers?
Isabelle Rousset - The budget has quadrupled in four years, to €25 million in 2005 (compared with €7 million in 2000), of which €15 million relates to the Sécuritas contract and €10 million to equipment. Passengers pay a security fee set by the State. The fee was €2.41 in 2000, €7.73 in 2005 and is expected to rise to €8 in 2006 at Lyon airport.
What measures have been taken to strengthen security in terms of human and material investment?
I. R. - The number of security agents has risen from 100 to 400, and there has been investment in equipment to screen hold and cabin baggage. For example, at terminal 2, inaugurated last April, we have invested 8 million euros in screening some 4,200 hold baggage items per hour. We have also introduced surface access control systems. Including for all airport staff.
Are you working on solutions to speed up the flow of passengers, despite these enhanced security measures?
I. R. - We have indeed been working on this for several years, with the installation of increasingly efficient and rapid equipment. All passenger checks are centralised at eight security checkpoints, which means that access to the restricted area is more fluid. All the gates will be replaced between 2005 and 2006 at a cost of 300,000 euros. The new gates allow for more accurate detection and therefore faster searches. In addition, an experiment has just been launched on the use of passenger X-rays to avoid pat-downs. We will also be gradually integrating a biometric system for access control in the boarding area, a system that we are continuing to test.
