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Asia-Pacific airlines seek review of radical airport security measures

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sep 01 (UNI)

An Asian airlines’ association warned on Friday that radical new airport security measures are raising public anxiety, and urged governments to review such procedures to avoid dampening air travel.

The Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines or AAPA, which represents 17 major Asian airlines, said uncoordinated, inconsistent security measures after the recent terrorist scare had caused chaos at London’s Heathrow and other airports.

‘‘Far from providing passengers with improved security, the new measures have, in many cases, simply raised the level of public anxiety,’’ AAPA’s director-general, Andrew Herdman. ‘‘This cannot form the basis of a secure and sustainable security regime going forward.’’

‘‘Better harmonized measures need to be put in place quickly in order to restore public confidence that good security does not need to be associated with emotional distress and grave inconvenience,’’ Herdman said.

Airport security requirements were raised worldwide after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, and further tightened after last month’s foiling of an alleged plot to blow up U.S.-bound commercial flights.

Herdman said security cannot be compromised, but government security agencies should objectively assess real threats and risks, and not subject travelers to overly onerous restrictions and inconveniences.

‘‘Good security is all about good threat assessment and balanced risk management, not the elimination of every conceivable risk,’’ he said in a statement.

‘‘Passengers are demanding greater clarity and consistency, as well as a restoration of common sense and practicality with regard to aviation security.’’

The AAPA ‘‘urged government security agencies to fundamentally review current practices on aviation security and to work more closely together with aviation regulatory authorities, airports and airlines’’ in ensuring air travel remains safe and convenient, he said.

He did not elaborate further on the security measures, and could not be immediately be reached for comment.

The AAPA represents Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, Dragonair, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International and Vietnam Airlines.

As a group, the association represents roughly one-fifth of global passenger traffic and one-third of global cargo traffic.