North American and European Airports Call for More Efficient, Sustainable
Aviation Security

PITTSBURGH, PA, Sept. 27 /CNW Telbec/ - During a joint board of directors meeting of the North American and European regions of Airports Council International (ACI-NA and ACI EUROPE), U.S., European, and Canadian airport directors discussed current aviation security issues with John Pistole, the recently appointed Administrator of the US Transportation Security Administration (USA TSA), Daniel Calleja, the Director of Air Transport for the European Commission and Kevin McGarr, President and CEO of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA). Board members of the Canadian Airports Council (CAC) also attended the meeting.

Taking stock of the progress achieved in recent years as a result of growing transatlantic cooperation, the boards confirmed their commitment to working closely with US TSA, CATSA and the EC. They stressed the importance of achieving an integrated transatlantic One Stop Security system, so as to deliver better service quality to passengers, while maintaining an effective level of security.

Looking further ahead, the airport directors urged US TSA, CATSA and the EC to work towards a more efficient, sustainable aviation security system. As part of this ambition, they also insisted on the need for the US, Canada and the EU to take the lead on truly international harmonization at ICAO.

"Building upon the existing level of coordination with and between the U.S., Canada and the EU is essential as we move forward to design the future aviation security system, which must be effective and efficient, yet sustainable over the long term," said ACI-NA Chairman Hardy Acree. "The safety and security of our passengers, employees and facilities is paramount to North American airports."

"Aviation security standards in the EU, Canada and the U.S. are among the highest in the world," said ACI Europe President Ad Rutten. "Yet, the ultimate goal of a one-stop security regime, including fully compatible solutions still has a lot of progress to make."

He added "We are calling for the EU and US to further step up their cooperation. We are calling upon them to work in a concerted and active way on designing the aviation security system of tomorrow. The way forward is clear. Improve the effectiveness of aviation security - by moving from almost exclusive focus on

detection to better use of intelligence and information in the whole passenger security process."

"Clearly Canada recognizes and supports the goal of pursuing the highest level of aviation security possible and this can only be through a concerted and coordinated effort by all parties," said Canadian Airports Council Chairman William A. Restall.

About ACI-NA

Airports Council International - North America represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Nearly 400 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International.

About ACI EUROPE

ACI Europe represents over 400 airports in 46 European countries. Member airports handle 90% of commercial air traffic in Europe, welcoming over a billion passengers each year.

Airports Council International (ACI) is the only worldwide professional association of airport operators

About Canadian Airports Council

The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) is the voice for Canada's airports. Its 49 members represent more than 200 airports, including all of the National Airports System (NAS) airports and most significant municipal airports in every province and territory. Together, CAC members handle virtually all of the nation's air cargo and international passenger traffic and 95% of domestic passenger traffic. They create in excess of $45 billion in economic activity in the communities they serve. And more than 200,000 jobs are directly associated with CAC member airports, generating a payroll of more than $8 billion annually.

For further information: Morgan Dye, ACI-NA, [email protected], [phone]; Tom Smith, ACI-NA, [email protected], [phone]; Robert O'Meara, ACI EUROPE, [email protected], [phone]; Daniel-Robert Gooch, Canadian Airports Council, [email protected], [phone]