A lot can happen in 24 hours. Fans of US hit “24” will know that in such a short space of time Jack Bauer can save the world 2 or 3 times over. In the real world 24 hours is all it takes to go from high optimism about the apparent end to long queues and security checks at airports to the despair that the ring of security at airports is only going to get tighter.

As I sat down to write this post on Friday I was happy to reporting on comments made by Martin Broughton, British Airways and Liverpool FC Chairman, that some security checks were “completely redundant” and that UK passengers should only agree to security checks that the US requires for domestic passengers. A much less stringent procedure. I am sure that all readers will agree that the safety of passengers and staff must be number one priority however; I would be lying if I did not say that I have grown frustrated at the need to go through seemingly endless levels of security checks every time I needed to fly.

On a recent flight to Majorca after struggling through 2 hours of security checks the flight was then delayed whilst the powers that be investigated a suspicious substance on the runway. 6 fire trucks and 2 hours later we were finally allowed to fly when the "suspicious substance" was identified as water!

The comments by Martin Broughton raised hopes that such delays would be a thing of the past. Sadly the events that unfolded over the weekend have put a quick end to these thoughts. The news that 2 bombs were smuggled onto cargo planes bound for Jewish synagogues in Chicago will inevitably lead to an extra layer of security added on to already bloated system.

Within hours of the story breaking Home Secretary Theresa May called for a review to airport security. Without wishing to jump the gun it appears obvious that the final conclusion reached will be that more security needs to be added to ensure that such an incident doesn’t happen again.

I would suggest that now is the appropriate time to have a complete review of all security procedures. If we rip up the manual and start again perhaps we can find a solution that will ensure the safety of air travel whilst creating a more pleasurable experience for travellers. If handled correctly then this latest scare can be used as a launch pad for a better and safer system of travel. Ultimately, I fear that the end result will be a security ring so tight and inflexible that not even Jack Bauer himself could get through it.

Whether this is a good thing for travellers is open to debate? In this writers opinion the events last week were a small step forward for UK travellers quickly followed by 2 large strides backwards.