IATA recommends Smart Security Program to improve passenger safety

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KUALA LUMPUR—The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has recommended the implementation of Smart Security Program and better use of passenger information provided to governments to ensure the effectiveness of security measures and increasing passenger convenience.

IATA is calling for a deeper partnership with governments to improve the passenger experience of security and facilitation processes.

Its Director-General and Chief Executive Officer Tony Tyler said a deepened working partnership of industry and governments has ample scope for further improvements.

“Our customers—the billions of people who fly with no ill intention—continue to tell us that security is the biggest pain point in their journey. We have come a long way since the dark days that followed the 9/11 tragedy,” Tyler said in a statement.

Smart Security Program is an initiative taken by Airports Council International (ACI) and IATA which lays out a roadmap to evolve airport passenger security screening to a more sustainable, efficient and effective process.

Under the program, ACI-IATA introduced a “Known-Traveler Program” which allow for a concentration of resources where risk is greater, with low-risk passengers receiving streamlined processing with shorter queuing times.

“The US “Pre-Check” known-traveler program was the pioneer and now has a three-year history covering nearly one in five passengers at US airports. I encourage other governments to learn from this success and move in the same direction,” he added.