The al Qaeda tactic of placing bombs in air freight will change the rules of the security game. Passengers and their luggage are far easier to search than the huge volume of freight moving around the world daily.
The economics of running an airline rest on a fine balance between passengers and freight. The cargo holds expedite urgently needed freight items such as the postal parcel trade - and this is now a high risk area.
The first casualty will be passenger numbers. Some people will avoid flying because there is a chance that they are sharing an airplane with a bomb. Lower passenger numbers will mean more reliance on freight to balance airline profitability.
No doubt the technology boffins will go into overdrive to create sophisticated detection equipment, but the task of screening each and every item consigned as air freight will be not only a daunting - but an impossible task.
We grizzle about the security checks when we travel by air. Get used to an expanded regimen at the post office and forwarding agency when next we seek to send little Suzy a birthday present.
The time is fast coming when the best present will be to send money - and let her buy her own !
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