Passengers travelling from Heathrow and Gatwick airports are set to have security check-in times slashed under new proposals from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
In its price control proposals published today, the CAA will offer financial incentives for improved airport passenger services.
Most notably, following adverse findings in a report by the Competition Commission published in October, airports have been handed a target to keep the average security processing queue to less than five minutes.
Dr Harry Bush, CAA group director, said: "Passengers and airlines deserve better than they have been provided with at Heathrow and Gatwick in recent years."
However, the per passenger price cap for 2008-09 charges has been increased to £11.97 or by 15.6 per cent at Heathrow and £6.07 or by 8.2 per cent at Gatwick.
The CAA also advised that for the following four years, prices should be increased by no more than retail price index (RPI) inflation plus 7.5 per cent each year at Heathrow.
At Gatwick, a more moderate RPI plus two per cent increase per year was proposed for the same period.
Commenting on the intent4ed outcome of these proposals, Dr Bush added: "There should be greater financial incentives on the airport operator to deliver the facilities and services that give rise to those price increases."
