LONDON - Fears of a new airborne terrorist attack have brought heightened tensions, grounded flights _ and created turbulence for U.S.-European relations.
Some European nations have balked at the United States' tough new aviation security measures, which include armed guards on aircraft and preflight scrutiny of passenger lists. Airlines, hit by rising security demands, want governments to handle part of the cost.
There are tensions within Europe on how to handle U.S. requests
said Philip Butterworth-Hayes, editor of Jane's Aircraft Components. Politically it's a complete nightmare for Europe.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, many airlines around the world have acceded to U.S. requests, installing bulletproof cockpit doors on aircraft and agreeing to share passenger lists with U.S. authorities.
But for some, the demand for armed sky marshals on flights to the United States was a step too far.
While a European Union-wide aviation safety agency is being established, each member country has been free to take its own position on sky marshals.
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