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They were once viewed as the glamorous gateways to foreign = lands.
In the 21st century, however, airports are more likely to be = heavily=20 guarded rings of steel - and not just in major world centres such = as=20 London and New York.
Forget about dropping your relatives and friends off outside = the=20 terminal at Glasgow Airport. In most modern airports armed police = are=20 almost as common as air stewards.
Railway stations have also stepped up security following the=20 devastating attacks seen in Madrid and Mumbai.
Security expert Professor Chris Johnson, from Glasgow = University,=20 believes transport infrastructure will continue to be a target for = terrorists.
He said: "These people are looking for high-profile places = where there=20 are lots of people, where they won't look conspicuous with say, a=20 suitcase, and are unlikely to be closely observed."
There is little doubt that in the post-9/11 world, security can = be a=20 difficult balancing act for governments and those who run = transport=20 hubs.
Visible, effective measures are required to protect passengers = and=20 staff, and deter potential terrorists. But make the whole process = of=20 travelling too time consuming and inconvenient, and you risk = losing=20 passengers and money.
The response from Glasgow Airport's owners, BAA, after the bomb = attack=20 appeared textbook. Just 24 hours after being a terrorist target = for the=20 first time, with the eyes of the world upon it, it was open for = business=20 again. However, only good fortune had prevented a bloodbath on = June 30 and=20 BAA surprised no-one when they said security would have to be = increased=20 even further.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the road in front of = the=20 terminal was completely closed to traffic, temporary concrete and = steel=20 blocks were placed along the concourse and armed police patrols = were=20 stepped up. Four months later, BAA Glasgow announced a raft of = measures,=20 costing =A32m.
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More than 300 bollards, placed one metre apart, are still being = installed in front of the terminal, to prevent vehicles being = driven into=20 the building.
It is believed Kafeel Ahmed skipped through a barrier behind a = taxi. A=20 spokeswoman insisted extra barriers and foot patrols by guards had = since=20 been introduced and would help prevent a similar incident.
According to Professor Johnson, however, another UK attack is=20 inevitable.
He said: "There are literally dozens of different ways to = attack=20 transport infrastructure, and as explosive technology moves on, we = have=20 found ourselves in an arms race."
However, he was keen to put the risk into perspective, saying: = "No=20 attack is likely to be as devastating to the population as, for = example, a=20 flu epidemic, or a major flood, and the government recognises = this."
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