ACI World issues new COVID-19 security guidance for airports
Guidelines are designed to foster safe, secure, and hygienic airport operations
Montreal, 13 August 2020 – Airports Council International (ACI) World has today published comprehensive guidance for airports to implement at security screening checkpoints as they prepare to restart operations.
The new Aviation Smart Security Playbook has been designed to assist airports in providing a safe, secure, and hygienic experience for passengers, staff, and the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, ACI drew on the experience of Deloitte to provide advice and recommendations based on their knowledge of industry practice.
The guidance is aligned with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) recommendations which lays out a global roadmap for the restart and recovery of air travel. It provides airports with practical and ready-to-implement solutions to ensure operational readiness as they prepare for gradual increase in passenger traffic.
The guidance focuses on:
- pre-security measures
- security and control measures
- primary security considerations
- passenger expectations, and
- creating a decision framework for control measures.
“As airports around the world restart operations, providing important connectivity and essential operations, their primary focus is on protecting the health and welfare of passengers and staff, as well as to minimize the opportunities for dissemination of disease,” ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said.
“The entire aviation ecosystem is adjusting to the complexities of the ‘new normal’ and responding to the needs and expectations of passengers is crucial in rebuilding confidence that air travel is safe.
“Aviation will be a key engine driving the long term global economic recovery from the effects of COVID-19 and these guidelines are intended to assist airports during the initial phases of business restart as well as the longer-term recovery process.
In making use of the guidance, airports should assess the local conditions and requirements – and the security or passenger needs on the ground – and should consider the long-term benefits of any new measure.
Notes for editors
- Download the Aviation Security Playbook.
- More information about ACI’s Smart Security programme.
- Stay up to date with ACI World’s COVID-19 communications through its dedicated news hub.
- Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world’s airports, was founded in 1991 with the objective of fostering cooperation among its member airports and other partners in world aviation, including the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Air Transport Association and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization. In representing the best interests of airports during key phases of policy development, ACI makes a significant contribution toward ensuring a global air transport system that is safe, secure, efficient, customer-centric and environmentally sustainable. As of January 2020, ACI serves 668 members, operating 1979 airports in 176 countries.
- In this press release references to “Deloitte” are references to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”) a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of DTTL and its member firms. Deloitte LLP is a subsidiary of Deloitte NSE LLP, which is a member firm of DTTL, and is among the UK’s leading professional services firms. The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press. For more information please visit www.deloitte.co.uk
Media contacts
Bojana Jeremic
Manager, External Relations and Special Events
ACI World
Telephone: +1 514 373 1254
Email: mediarelations@aci.aero