Security at Gatwick has been criticised ahead of tomorrow's second anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Chris Yates, editor of transport defence magazine Jane's Transport, said there were serious shortfalls in airport security.

His attack came as a Gatwick spokesman confirmed no extra security measures would be taken tomorrow.

Mr Yates said: "There are still major holes in security arrangements at airports across the country, including Gatwick.

"People can get jobs in baggage handling without any background checks and this has been exposed by numerous journalists.

"Then there is the age-old problem of people being able to drive up to a check point and simply be waved through.

"Security guards are allowing people through on the basis of the vehicle they are driving rather than who is driving."

Mr Yates added: "Finally, there is an ongoing problem with screening people's luggage which takes five seconds per item.

"By the time a screener has checked an average businessman's briefcase and noted the obvious items like mobile phones, he has probably missed the box-cutter or the bomb."

Despite his broadside, he backed Gatwick's low-key approach to security tomorrow.

He said: "I would not recommend increasing security patrols in airports until there is a credible threat and at the moment that does not exist.

"If you have people on full alert over a long period of time you would have to think their effectiveness would diminish over that period of time."

A Gatwick spokesman said: "Security has been tightened generally since September 11 and we will not be adding to that.

"There will be armed police patrolling the terminals but that is normal procedure now.

"As for a minute's silence, we take our guidelines from the Government and they have not issued a statement. Obviously people will be paying tribute in their own personal way."

Meanwhile, BA has confirmed it is considering fitting anti-missile technology to its planes to protect them against terrorist attacks.

The company, which spends £100 million a year on safety, is in talks with airline manufacturers Boeing and Airbus about installing the military equipment in its aircraft.

Geoff Want, director of safety at BA, said: "We are trying to understand the options, but what might work for the military won't necessarily work on a civilian plane."