ACI Airport Security Risk Assessment Handbook guides airport security management
Handbook promotes better understanding of how to prioritize security risks
Montreal, 5 November 2020 – Airports Council International (ACI World) has today published the Airport Security Risk Assessment Handbook which assists airports in understanding threats, assessing associated risks, and allocating resources where they are most needed
Amid the challenges faced by the industry during COVID-19, security remains a top priority. Airports need to meet security standards and be able to manage security effectively in an environment of constrained resources which could include funding, staff levels, and time.
ACI identified that risk assessment can be over-complicated, with unrealistic assumptions made about potential vulnerabilities. The handbook provides a step by step breakdown of a risk assessment process and has been developed in response to industry requests for updated guidance. The new handbook covers:
- guidance on best practices and methodologies that can be applied to security risk assessment to help airports prioritize and manage risks
- a case study on insider threat, and examples from airports on how risk assessments are conducted, and
- global best practices and real-life experience from ACI’s member airports and experts in the field.
“Our members have told us that risk assessment is as an area where more guidance and training is needed,” ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said. “This handbook brings together best practices and methodologies that can be applied to security risk assessment that help airports identify their top priorities.
“As the industry grapples with the impacts and effects of the pandemic, they have not lost sight of the overriding priorities of safe operations, including security. This handbook will assist airports in ensuring secure operations even as they seek to restart and lay the foundation for a long term recovery for COVID-19.”
The handbook includes guidance on recognizing plausible threat scenarios, to assessing the likelihood and impact of an attack occurring, considering measures already in place to address the risk, and possible solutions to address the concern. It helps airports to tailor a risk assessment to their own reality, considering their operation and their national threat and risk picture.
“By implementing a clear, systematic process, airport management will be able to clearly identify their priorities and communicate them with all stakeholders including staff, regulators and customers,” Luis Felipe de Oliveira said.
The handbook includes contributions from the ACI World Security Standing Committee and ACI World Business Partners.
Production of the handbook was sponsored by G4S.
Notes for editors.
- The Airport Security Risk Assessment Handbook is available here.
- Training courses are available on topics presented in this handbook via the ACI Global Training curriculum.
- 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, customer-centric and environmentally sustainable. As of January 2020, ACI serves 668 members, operating 1979 airports in 176 countries.
Media contacts
Anita Berthier
Director, Communications
ACI World
Telephone: +1 514 373 1254
Email: mediarelations@aci.aero