Virgin Atlantic has called on the Government to pay for airport security in view of the increased threat from terrorism.

It says this would be better than relying on the aviation industry to foot the bill.

The Crawley-based airline wants the Home Office to fund extra staffing, equipment and infrastructure that airports such as Gatwick will need to cope with heightened security.

Virgin said the terrorist threat affected the whole country, not just airports.

It said it was therefore "appropriate" that the state provided the resources to tackle the problem.

The company outlined its position in a statement, which also contained a thinly-veiled attack on airports operator BAA for its handling of the security situation.

Heightened security measures at UK airports following the recent suspected terror plot at Heathrow had cost some airlines millions, the flag-carrier said.

The statement said: "Several questions need to be asked of BAA regarding contingency planning - what worked and what didn't. Some airlines have incurred millions in costs.

"A robust, long-term plan needs to be put in place.

"The threat level is not just severe for an airport but for the whole of the UK.

"Therefore it is appropriate that the Government steps up to its responsibility and helps provide the right resources to ensure passengers have as smooth an experience as possible at the airport."

Virgin's demands follow a suspected terror plot a fortnight ago, which is alleged to have centred on bombs aboard nine UK-US flights from Heathrow.

It is understood members of Virgin's Government affairs team have spoken to Department of Transport officials about the issue and are awaiting a response.

Currently, the industry pays for security at major airports as part of a wider fee levied by BAA on airlines for all passengers.

Virgin's statement increases pressure on the Government to return airport security measures to normal as soon as possible at Gatwick and Heathrow.

Budget airline Ryanair has urged the Government to restore airport security measures to normal levels or risk being sued for compensation.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said: "The UK Government successfully led the return to normality on the London Underground within two days of the July 7 terrorist attacks.

"It is important that they now restore security at the London airports to normality and remove some of the nonsensical and totally ineffective restrictions which were introduced last week."

Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling said security restrictions would be made manageable within days. Ministers would ensure restrictions were "proportionate" to the threat level.

A spokesman for BAA said: "The security measures were implemented with just three hours' notice and yet the vast majority of passengers got on their flights with just two hours delay, so to suggest we could have achieved that without contingency planning is wrong.

"That's not to say the security measures didn't stretch us, but that's understandable."