IATA stresses on coordination and sharing of intelligence

Alarmed at the growing terrorist threat to aviation, global airlines body IATA has stressed heightened coordination with governments and their agencies across the world for counter-measures and sharing of intelligence and information.
Noting that terror threat was a matter of national security in which governments have the overall responsibility to protect citizens, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) also said that airlines have a role to play in the efforts to counter terrorist acts.
A resolution to this effect was unanimously adopted at the ongoing IATA annual meeting in Dublin in which the airline CEOs also pledged that their companies would uphold strict aviation security standards, remain vigilant and ensure the highest levels of preparedness against such acts, a press release said.

The resolution came in the backdrop of the Brussels airport attack and the bombings of Russia's Metrojet airline passenger plane in October 2015 and an aircraft of Somalia's Daallo Airline in February this year.
"These are grim reminders that aviation is vulnerable. Airlines rely on governments to keep passengers and employees secure as part of their responsibility for national security. And we are committed to working with them in that challenging task," IATA Director General and CEO Tony Tyler said.
The resolution noted that air transport remained "a target for terrorists, exemplified by a series of recent tragic attacks on aircraft and aviation infrastructure to which terrorists have laid claim," and expressed concern that current conflicts around the world could lead to further terrorist activities, against airlines and the travelling public.

It emphasised that "a coordinated approach to countering terrorist threats by governments, airlines, airports and all other relevant industry stakeholders will be more effective than individual actions alone."
The IATA asked its member airlines, airports and other aviation industry stakeholders to work in partnership to counter the risk of terrorist threats to aviation and called on governments to work in partnership amongst themselves and with airlines to counter the risk.