DHS Secretary Napolitano Attends Meeting to Discuss International Aviation Security Standards

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano this week met with members of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as well as leaders from twenty international airlines to discuss improvements in international aviation security. Secretary Napolitano outlined four general areas in which international public-private collaboration would help improve efforts to secure aviation systems: improving information collection and analysis; increasing information sharing and collaboration in passenger vetting; enhancing international aviation security standards; and deploying new airport screening technologies.

This week's meetings are the first in a series of planned global meetings to discuss a collaborative effort to implement new international aviation security standards and procedures. While the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) must, by law, screen passengers and baggage entering air vessels originating from within the United States, it does not screen passengers or baggage originating abroad. All last point of departure flights to the United States must meet minimum standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as well as recently enhanced security standards set by TSA. The recent global meetings are an effort to streamline international aviation security standards for all international and domestic flights.