WASHINGTON — Airline executives told the Senate on Wednesday that immediately matching all bags to passengers or screening all checked luggage for explosives would be impossible without substantial delays and fewer flights.

        The nation's hub-and-spoke airport network, which handles about 700 million passengers and 1 billion bags each year, depends on multiple connections and quick turnaround time for flights. Airports and airlines have increased security since Sept. 11's hijackings, but executives warned that more substantial safeguards could take time and disrupt air travel.

        Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., chairman of the Senate antitrust subcommittee, characterized the lack of bag matching and screening of checked baggage as a “gaping hole” in security. Mr. Kohl described a possibility where terrorists check explosives onto airplanes at a dozen airports without explosives-detection machines and then simply go home.

        “This is a huge risk and a gamble,” said Mr. Kohl, who wondered why European airlines are able to provide tighter security.

        Under tough questioning, airline executives explained that the U.S. system is too large and complex to quickly achieve bag matching. Explosives-detection machines would be installed at most airports once technological, logistic and financial obstacles are satisfied, the executives said. Only 55 airports now have the machines.

        “It is not easy,” Delta Air Lines chairman Leo Mullin said of bag matching. “The logistical aspects of this are extremely serious.”

        Donald Carty, chairman of American Airlines, said bag matching would not have prevented the Sept. 11 attacks, where suicide hijackers commandeered four airplanes. Instead, he said flights would be delayed while errant luggage is tracked, the number of flights would be reduced, and some airline workers would lose their jobs.

        Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, said he appreciated the challenges but told the executives flatly that their answers would not satisfy public concerns.

        “No one's going to accept that,” he said. “The answer for the public is going to be, "Figure it out, guys.'”

        The Senate and House have approved competing aviation security bills, and a conference committee will work out a final version. The main difference is whether baggage screeners should be federal or private workers. Both bills would require airlines to increase bag matching and screening of checked luggage.

        Mr. Mullin said airlines have taken important steps to improve security. Access to the cockpit has been tightened, sky marshals have been added to more flights, airplanes are swept overnight for unusual items, and more passengers and luggage are pulled aside for screening.

        Delta — which Mr. Mullin said is losing $8.5 million a day — and the other airlines are conscious of the public's security fears.

        “We have an immensely improved system,” he said.

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