Paper: US$150mn investment needed to improve airport safety

International airports throughout Mexico will have to invest as much as US$150mn to bring security levels up to international standards by 2006, local daily Reforma quoted Siemens México official Froylán Aparicio as saying. The main installment will include machines that detect explosive material in luggage, Aparicio said, who is the head of airport systems at the German engineering company. The security measure is called for by a civil aeronautic branch of the UN that represents the interests of 185 countries and promotes international aviation safety. In Mexico there are 47 international airports, according to reports, of which 34 are managed by private groups. Airport management will have to cover the costs of these installations but will then recover the costs with an added charge on airline fares.