IATA Urges Governments to Partner on Aviation Security

• IATA Urges Governments to Partner on Aviation Security

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on governments to work harder to provide solutions to aviation’s security challenges.

These challenges, according to the global body, include threats to civil aviation in land and air around the airports.

IATA’s Director-General, Alexandre de Junaic said there was need for governments to evolve new measures to improve aviation security through collaboration with IATA the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Airports Council International (ACI).

He said said these measures must be based on common principles to include such areas as overflying conflict zones, landside security at airports, insider threats, cyber security, harmonisation of passenger name record (PNR) and advance passenger information (API) requirements and airport checkpoints.

Junaic said: “Aviation is the ‘business of freedom’—a catalyst for social and economic development that improves people’s lives. Paradoxically, the good that aviation brings also makes it a target for terror. No entity has all the answers.

“That’s why partnerships are essential to address our major security challenges with the speed needed to stay a step ahead of those who would do our industry harm. These efforts must keep four common principles in focus: risk-based measures, the implementation of global standards, capacity building to support the mutual recognition of standards, and information sharing among governments and with industry.”

Junaic added: “Timely and accurate information needed to support risk-assessments when overflying conflict zones.’’