Slow check-in times at peak times are expected to continue, according to BAA, the UK’s largest airports operator.

BAA, which owns and operates seven airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, has been heavily criticized for long delays caused by the tighter security restrictions imposed after last year’s terrorist alert.

In a speech to journalists last night Stephen Nelson, Chief Executive of BAA, announced that BAA plans to spend £40 million to recruit 1,400 extra security staff and open 22 new security lanes across its seven UK airports. With these developments in place BAA is committed to reducing passenger queuing time to 5 minutes or less for 95% of the time.