KUALA LUMPUR: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on members of the aviation industry and governments to work together to tackle pressing security challenges.
IATA’s newly-appointed director general and chief executive officer (CEO), Alexandre de Juniac, said aviation is a catalyst for social and economic development that improves people’s lives.
However, it is also a target of terror, he said.
“That is why partnerships are essential to address our major security challenges, with the speed needed to stay a step ahead of those who would do our industry harm,” de Juniac said in his opening speech at the 25th AVSEC World conference here, today.
The conference runs from today until Oct 27.
The 25th AVSEC World conference is hosted by Malaysia Airlines Bhd, and jointly presented by IATA in partnership with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Airports Council International (ACI).
de Juniac, the former CEO of Air France-KLM, said the aviation industry and governments must keep four common principles in focus. These include risk-based measures, implementation of global standards and capacity-building to support the mutual recognition of standards.
The fourth principle is information-sharing among governments and with the industry.
“Speed is of the essence. Threats emerge quickly and they evolve fast. The four principles will help us to address the threats and challenges we face, but only if we move quickly enough,” he said.