In the wake of the Sharm el-Sheikh disaster, aviation experts have said a new international framework is needed to prevent airport security weaknesses being exploited by terrorists.

They said urgent changes were needed to upgrade security checks made on airport staff before they reached ‘airside’, as well as improving the vetting and recruitment process of airport workers.

Terrorism is not in the luggage and items carried with travellers. Terrorism is in the hearts and minds of certain people.

It is not the luggage which needs to be examined, causing yet more delays and suffering, it is the airport workers, air crews and the people traveling, who need to be examined thoroughly prior to allowing them to purchase a ticket to fly.

The Israelis have successfully practiced passenger profiling for many years.

Research carried out by Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) found that 66 per cent of business travellers said that the unpredictable waits at security screening and inconsistencies in the process added to their stress before flying, so organisations should consider how to minimise stress at the airport.

Check in: advise travellers to print off both outward and return boarding cards before departure. If traveling with checked baggage, arrive in plenty of time for the queue for the ‘fast’ bag drop.

Security: many airports now offer a fast track through the checks. Allow travellers to expense these costs where appropriate.

Lounge access: subscribe to a corporate lounge pass. Lounges offer a space away from the noise and chaos of the airport terminal.

Did you know? Four in ten Britons who have flown find the airport experience stressful and nearly a quarter believe it as stressful as moving house!