ACI World sets out long-term vision for airport security
ACI World Director General Angela Gittens
presented three papers to the high-level aviation security conference at the
ICAO Symposium in Montreal
Airports Council
International (ACI) World has outlined its long-term vision for aviation
security which focuses on more innovative procedures, greater efficiency, and a
better passenger experience.
ACI World published its vision as some 700 international aviation security professionals gathered at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Symposium in Montreal for a series of events exploring the future of aviation security.
ACI World Director General Angela Gittens presented three papers to the high-level aviation security conference.
The Vision for Aviation Security at Airports was produced in partnership with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and promotes the efforts that the aviation industry is making to identify themes, innovations and developments that will affect airport security in the long term.
“With growing passenger numbers, airports simply cannot keep creating more space and adding more and longer queues to accommodate more layers of screening measures,” Gittens said. “We need to find ways of being smarter about security and recognize that there is not one solution for all airports. All airports and aviation stakeholders must work together to ensure innovative and integrated solutions are in line with regulatory requirements and are tailored to the unique conditions and facilities of the airport.”
The paper identifies new and emerging themes in airport security, including off-airport handling of passengers and bags to minimize required processes at airports, walk-through, seamless, stand-off security from curb to gate for passengers, and whole-of-airport security to secure the overall airport infrastructure from a range of current and evolving threats.
“In the future, it is expected that interactions with staff at airports will be centered on customer-friendly tasks, while machines will perform most screening activities,” Gittens said. “Security screening will be based on risk assessments and advanced screening technologies that allow for effective and efficient detection of a greater range of threats in an ever-evolving threat environment.”
Detailing its ongoing contribution towards the Global Aviation Security Plan, ACI committed to take a leading role on the Smart Security program following years of fruitful partnership on the program with IATA. The program has delivered positive change in the effectiveness, efficiency and customer experience of primary passenger screening checkpoints, ACI said.
On the first day of the Montreal symposium, Gittens also participated in the opening session, which explored the key challenges for states and industry stakeholders in deploying effective and efficient screening technologies.
