Airport set to beef up security

Security at Blenheim Airport is to be ramped up with the creation of a special committee involving police, air force, airlines, tenants and airport representatives.

Airport manager Dean Heiford said there was no firm timeframe for establishing the security committee but he was hopeful it would meet once before Christmas.

At this point, the committee's focus was not to make any physical changes at the airport, he said.

Instead, it would be concentrated on making airport-based staff more aware and better trained on security. It would also be a forum to discuss security issues and share security-related information.

"We are aware that if anything went wrong in the future then that might change and that's the prerogative of the Ministry of Transport and Government."

Meetings would probably be held quarterly, Mr Heiford said.

Transport Ministry spokesman Bryan McDaniel said the plan was to have security committees established at eight regional airports that regularly had flights with 19 or more passenger seats. Nelson Airport was one of those.

He said the country's eight main airports, including Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown, already had committees.

The ministry has said it would like each new committee to have met at least twice before the start of the New Zealand-hosted Rugby World Cup in September 2011.

The plan was part of a larger aviation security review, which was ordered by the previous government after Blenheim woman Asha Ali Abdille allegedly attempted to hijack a Blenheim-to-Christchurch flight in February last year.

A new trial date for Abdille will be set at the High Court in Christchurch on December 4..

In May, Transport Minister Steven Joyce ruled out the spending of $160 million over 10 years to tighten airport security and introduce screening. The changes would have meant making more than $1m in modifications to Blenheim Airport.

Instead, Mr Joyce opted for internal doors to cockpits be installed or strengthened.

Mr Heiford said the Government agency Aviation Security Service (Avsec), which operates screening at the country's major airports, would be on hand to help the new committees.

"Blenheim Airport is in the middle of an air force base, so we actually have a higher-level security than most," he said.

"But you've got to remember that we are still a regional airport, so we want to maintain some semblance of friendliness and openness, but we also need to ensure we meet the minimal requirements for safety."