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It's not about more but about better airline security - Iata

Geneva – The fact that the aviation industry must remain vigilant should not be taken lightly and those responsible for aviation attacks should be held accountable, warned Nick Careen, senior vice-president for airport, passenger, cargo and security of the International Air Transport Association (Iata).

“It is not about more security, but about better security,” he said at Iata’s Global Media Day on Thursday.

“Every day an air transport workforce of 8 million people supports 100 000 commercial flights, which carry over 10 million passengers to their destinations safely and securely. We need to check in and screen over 20 million pieces of baggage, for instance. This is an enormous task.”

He admitted that doing all of this while staying ahead of what he called “those with an agenda of evil” is a challenge on a massive scale.

Careen pointed out that a UN security resolution, unanimously endorsed by the UN Security Council in September 2016, requests international security standards to be reviewed, updated and adapted to meet the evolving nature of threats.

“We are secure, but change is rapid. We are in a digital world, so we have to constantly focus on this and share best practices regarding cyber security risk, for instance,” said Careen.

“The UN Security Council resolution is clear: security is a government responsibility.”

He said Iata maintains that aviation security policy cannot rely on a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Iata would rather like to see regulators provide more transparency with respect to the outcome of audits - in particular serious security concerns - and share relevant risk information in a timely fashion.

He would like to see a holistic approach taken to identify problems.

“Collectively, states and the industry need to develop smarter and faster next-generation aviation and border security solutions for airline passengers and cargo customers,” said Careen.

“Governments and industry partners must improve their readiness to manage emerging threats and the growth forecasts for passengers and cargo volumes. Regulators need to identify opportunities for mutual recognition in aviation security systems.”

He said a risk-based approach is needed to ensure that limited resources are applied where the risk is greatest.

“Security information must be shared effectively among governments and with industry. There may be sensitivities, but the potential to save innocent citizens must be the motivating factor,” said Careen.

Implementing global standards in security systems is another important aspect, in his view.

Careen pointed out that security challenges include conflict zones in the world and landside security (where passengers, staff and those meeting or greeting passengers are under threat).

Threats from insiders bring another real threat as there is still no perfect vetting system for staff. Intelligence analysis from governments is the most potent tool to identify threats, especially from radicalisation, in his view.

Cyber security is another threat.

“Airline systems are secure, but they are not without risk. Processes for security checks have improved, but can still be inconvenient and even intrusive,” said Careen.

Iata proposes what it calls Smart Security. Trials about this are being done and the technology has been implemented at some airports. Its next steps will include advanced cabin baggage, advanced passenger screening, advanced checkpoint management systems and infrastructure for risk-based differentiated screening.

“We continue to work in close cooperation with forward-looking regulators, screening authorities, airports, airlines and solution providers to test and evaluate these innovative technologies and concepts,” said Careen.

One Iata initiative, for instance, is a single token concept. This means a passenger’s identity is verified and authenticated by matching their passport and their biometrics only once throughout a travel journey.

It is, therefore, a means by which a passenger can repeatedly identify himself in a uniform manner throughout the steps of the airport process. The token is then used in place of a passport to prove that the passenger is who he claims to be.

Iata foresees that this will reduce queuing time and allow for a faster, safer and more secure passenger process.

“The aviation industry is safe and secure, but there is no doubt that it is a target. States, however, need to do more and be able to act faster,” he concluded.

*Fin24 is a guest of Iata at its Global Media Day.

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