BAA to cut airport security queues

MADRID, Mar 27 (Reuters) British airport operator BAA plans to spend 40 million pounds (.4 million) and hire hundreds of new staff to speed people through security in less than five minutes, it said on Tuesday.

BAA, owned by Spain's Ferrovial, came under heavy criticism last year over the way it tightened airport security checks after it was alerted by British police to an alleged plot to blow planes up over the Atlantic.

Hundreds of holidaymakers missed their flights because of the long queues and many complained about new rules restricting what they could take in their hand luggage.

BAA, which owns London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports, said its new investments would cut security queues to less than five minutes 95 percent of the time.

The company will recruit an extra 1,400 security guards and open 22 new security lanes across the airports, it said in a statement.

BAA is also planning to invest billions of pounds to improve its airports in time for the 2012 London Olympics, it said, without giving a specific number.

REUTERS CS DB1858