Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Strengthening International Aviation Security

Readout of Secretary Napolitano's Meeting with Airline Industry CEOs on Strengthening International Aviation Security


March 4, 2010 - Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Napolitano today met with CEOs of the member airlines of the Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the largest airline trade association in the United States, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents approximately 230 airlines and more than 90 percent of the world's air traffic—part of her ongoing efforts to bring together major domestic and foreign air carriers to work on ways to bolster international aviation security.

"Government and the private sector must work collaboratively to develop and implement enhanced international security measures and standards," said Secretary Napolitano. "Working together with our partners in the aviation industry, we can and will strengthen the global aviation network to protect the traveling public from terrorism and other threats."

During the meeting, Secretary Napolitano and airline CEOs from across the United States and Europe discussed the international airline industry's important role in implementing stronger and more effective international aviation security measures to protect the traveling public.

Secretary Napolitano also highlighted the Department's continued efforts to bolster security measures at domestic airports–including the accelerated deployment of state-of-the-art equipment such as Advanced Imaging Technology and Explosives Trace Detection units to enhance passenger screening–and reiterated DHS' commitment to working with airlines on the deployment of security measures and technology at U.S. and international airports.

Since January, Secretary Napolitano has met frequently with top representatives from airlines and airports from across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and North America on ways to strengthen the international aviation security system.

Today's meeting builds on recent international summits attended by Secretary Napolitano that have resulted in joint declarations to strengthen the international civil aviation system between the United States and Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama on Feb. 17, and between the United State and the European Union on Jan. 21.

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