The Wire

With the world ever-nervous about the prospect of another September-11 style hijacking, security at airports have increased in the past five years. But some are questioning where the line should be drawn, particularly when it comes to increasing security at regional centres. This week its been revealed that passengers at Melbourne Airport have been disembarking from regional flights where they haven’t been trhough security screening, and have been mingling freely with customers awaiting departures in the Virgin Blue terminal. Some regional passangers are concerned that the high cost of flying from regional centres could face a further hike, prompting the question of whether airline safety or flight affordability is more important for regional fliers. And in an interetsing twist, Victorian Nationals MP Bill Baxter recieved letters that indicate the airport authority tried to gag Regional Express from making these plans public. Mr Baxter spoke to The Wire’s Ashlee Betteridge about the situation.