Jim Harper

Airport Security Technology Stuck in the Pipeline

The Washington Post has a story today on the slow pace of progress in airport security technology. We would see faster development of better, more consumer-friendly security technology if the airlines were entirely responsible for it. Here’s a glimpse of what I said about this in an written debate hosted by Reason magazine a few years ago:

Airlines should be given clear responsibility for their own security and clear liability should they fail. Under these conditions, airlines would provide security, along with the best mix of privacy, savings, and convenience, in the best possible way. Because of federal involvement, air transportation is likely less safe today than it would be if responsibility were unequivocally with the airlines.

February 8, 2008 | Comments |

Viewing 2 Comments

    • ^
    • v
    Sorry to inform - liability already is with the airlines. Airlines have no capacity to invest further in security, they barely break even as it is. Therefore airport security is up to>>>?
    • ^
    • v
    We would see faster development of better, more consumer-friendly security technology if the airlines were entirely responsible for it.

    No, because the airlines would never internalize the risks that the place society in by their activities unless: we impose strict liability for any breach of security on the airline.

    In other words, we would make American Airlines and United entirely responsible for all of the damage done by their airplanes hitting the World Trade Center on 9/11.

    As part of such strict liability, we would require airlines to be bonded and insured against such catastrophic losses.

    Is that part of your proposal?

Trackbacks

blog comments powered by Disqus