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France Adopts One-Stop Security

On 7 May, France became the latest EU Member State to endorse and implement one-stop security. One-stop security is the process where connecting passengers and bags - in this case arriving from another EU country - are not re-screened.

One of IATA's security priorities is to extend the application of one-stop security across the globe. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) AVSEC Panel in April agreed with IATA that one-stop security should be encouraged. EU security rules already allowed one-stop security between EU airports, but France, the UK and Ireland had opted out. IATA now expects that the recent French adoption will lead the UK and Ireland to rethink their policies on transfer security.

Security Management System (SeMS)

ICAO stalls on SeMS, but IATA continues its advocacy

Although the 2009 ICAO AVSEC Panel concluded that the principles behind Security Management Systems were sound, and despite strong support by a number of pro-active states (including New Zealand and Canada), the Panel failed to accept the introduction of a SeMS provision in Annex 17.

For now, SeMS will be included in ICAO Guidance Material. IATA continues to advocate the implementation of Security Management Systems with its members, through IOSA standards and guidance material for airlines, as well as providing SeMS training for airlines, airports and regulators.  Looking forward, IATA will continue to target individual States, airlines and airports to spread understanding of SeMS and assist in implementation.

For further information on SeMS, please contact: secfal@iata.org.

Passenger Data Exchange

Progress on Passenger Name Record (PNR) standards

Legislation granting government access to Airline Reservation Systems and the data they contain has spread from four countries in 2004 to potentially 15 by the end of 2010. We anticipate that this trend will continue. As more governments seek to implement PNR regimes, the need for alignment of government expectations and data exchange requirements will become even more critical for our industry.  

In May, the IATA-chaired Control Authorities Working Group ( IATA/CAWG) finalised a policy paper relating to PNR Data Exchange processes which will be extremely educational for governments developing national PNR Access. 

In parallel, IATA is leading the development of new industry standards for PNR data exchange messaging formats, while ICAO will convene an expert working group. Given growing interest from governments, airlines and service providers in  enhancing efficiencies, these developments demonstrate the need for a truly global harmonised PNR data exchange mechanism.  
 
Common standards for PNR data exchange regimes has the potential of saving the industry hundreds of millions of dollars in programming and data transmission costs over the next three years. 

Please contact secfal@iata.org for further information.