IATA criticizes new 'laptop ban'

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is urging governments to find alternatives to recently-announced U.S. and U.K. measures to restrict cabin transportation of electronic devices on select flights from the Middle East and North Africa.

Advocacy of alternative measures

“The current measures are not an acceptable long-term solution to the threats they are trying to mitigate,” said Alexandre de Juniac, director general and CEO, IATA. “Even in the short term, it is difficult to measure their effectiveness. And the trade distortions they create are serious. We are asking governments to work with the industry to find a way to ensure flight safety without depriving passengers of their personal electronic devices.”

De Juniac made this request in a speech to the Montreal International Relations Council, highlighting the need to maintain public confidence in the safety of the world’s aviation, which ensures 100,000 flights per day arrive in a safe and secure manner.

“With the measures currently in place, our passengers and our member airlines are asking relevant questions. How is it that the United States and the United Kingdom do not have a common list of airports? Why is a laptop safe on some flights, but not on others – including when it comes to flights departing from the same airport? And is there not a way to properly verify electronic equipment?

“The current situation is unacceptable, and will not preserve the essential confidence of the industry and travellers. We need to find a better solution. And governments must act quickly,” continued de Juniac.

Calls for greater coordination, information sharing

IATA also expressed its frustration over the process used by governments to implement security measures. “The industry has been quick to implement the new requirements. This was a challenge since there had been no prior consultation and very little coordination by governments,” said de Juniac.

IATA has long called for better information-sharing and coordination on security measures between governments and industry.

“While governments bear the primary responsibility for safety, we share this desire to ensure the safety of our passengers, crews and aircraft,” de Juniac said. “To achieve this, intelligence is fundamental. And we need to share information among governments and industry. This is the only way to stop terrorists before they can even approach an airport or an aircraft.”

In addition, cooperation between industry and governments results in better outcomes. “Airlines are not asking for access to state secrets. But if air carriers understand the results expected by governments, they will be able to leverage their operating experience to achieve these results effectively and efficiently.”

International cooperation

Issues that threaten air security were highlighted in UN Security Council Resolution 2309, which gave the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) the mandate to finalize a Global Aviation Security Plan. “The need for such a plan is highlighted by the wide discrepancies between the various measures recently put in place by governments. States should fully support ICAO in its efforts… and even before this is achieved, there can be real improvement in international security cooperation,” finished de Juniac.

In May, ICAO member states will discuss amendments to Annex 17 to the Chicago Convention that would require information sharing; the experience of recent years in the field of safety should encourage states to support this approach, said de Juniac.