EU agrees to revise aviation security rules

The Association of European Airlines (AEA) and Airports Council International (ACI) Europe have welcomed the European Union’s decision to revise the regulatory framework for aviation security. The agreement reached between the European Parliament, Commission and Council could result in an overhaul of the strict 2002 legislation adopted in the aftermath of the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks in the US.

AEA secretary general Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus said: “The 2002 regulation has fulfilled its task of protecting airlines, airports and passengers, but technology has moved on, threats and risks are now better understood, and system weaknesses have been eliminated while the measures protecting against them remain in place.” He added that the scheme for recognising the security standards of non-EU countries could mean that transit passengers arriving from those nations will no longer be required to be re-screened in the future.

ACI Europe director general Olivier Jankovec added: “Security remains a priority and challenge for airports across Europe. The last years have brought us to a critical point with increasingly complex measures threatening our ability to offer high-quality services to our passengers. The agreement reached, therefore, is welcome news and shows a great sense of responsibility from all institutions involved. It will allow more flexibility and increased efficiency as the regulatory framework will reflect technological developments and reduce costly duplications. Let’s not forget that for European airports, security alone now represents up to 35% of their operating costs.”

However, European Travel Retail Council secretary general Keith Spinks has warned that the decision does not affect travel-retail. He told RavenFox.com: “While we welcome anything that simplifies the [security] rules, at the same time it is not going to affect what we are doing in terms of seeking recognition of third countries’ security procedures. What they are looking at is introducing new common security rules across the EU for such things as airport access controls, screening of staff and screening of passengers and bags, but there is no intention to review the regulation concerning liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) in hand luggage that is in place at the moment. What it does do that is interesting—and could be interesting to our members as well—is the principle of one-stop security screening for passengers in transit within the EU from non-EU countries. But the implementation of this in real terms is not going to affect us as far as our LAGs issues and transfer passengers carrying duty-free items are concerned.”