ABSTRACT
It is estimated that total global spending on airport security will reach or exceed US$45 billion by 2018 (Frost & Sullivan, 2012). Yet despite all of the resources devoted to deterrence, pre-emption and defence against attacks on aviation, the undisputable fact is that the threat of such attacks (which can be initiated and executed with relatively few resources) can never be completely eliminated. Consequently, aviation security necessarily defines an ‘economic problem’ in which scarce resources must be allocated to the prevention of attacks, while striving to preserve the rights, freedoms and quality of life that should be enjoyed and preserved for future generations. The economic nature of problems in aviation security underlies the importance of research and analysis that can help allocate resources as effectively and efficiently as possible.
