--- title: "International Air Transport Association Wants Airport Security Changes" id: "13865" type: "post" slug: "international-air-transport-association-wants-airport-security-changes" published_at: "2012-10-16T18:00:00+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-15T18:58:35+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/10/16/international-air-transport-association-wants-airport-security-changes/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/10/16/international-air-transport-association-wants-airport-security-changes.md" excerpt: "The International Air Transport Association's CEO argues that, without changes, both passengers and airport terminals will become overwhelmed." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AI" - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "passenger screening" - "risk assessment" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » International Air Transport Association Wants Airport Security Changes Do you think that airport security is too annoying? Well, a key trade group agrees. The director general and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Tony Tyler, [recently explained (opens in a new tab)](http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/Pages/2012-10-16-01.aspx) the group’s focus on simplifying airport security at the World Passenger Symposium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. > We simply can’t cope with the expected volume of passengers with the way things are today. His warning? The current security system is unsustainable. “We simply can’t cope with the expected volume of passengers with the way things are today,” Tyler said, [according to the Associated Press (opens in a new tab)](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_AIRLINES_AIRPORT_SECURITY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT) . The group, arguing that the current one-size-fits-all approach to airport security is a hassle for both passengers and airports, wants to move to a system that focuses on risk assessment. IATA has been pushing such changes for months. [In a 2011 New York Times story (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/business/streamlining-airport-security.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all) , the group presented a vision for airport security lines in which passengers would go through different aisles based on levels of risk. These “checkpoints of the future,” as the association calls them, would allow passengers to go through security without emptying bags, taking off shoes, or throwing out liquids — and would be supplemented with preferred-travel programs the Transportation Security Administration currently is pushing. What would help to simplify the process? More knowledge of the passengers traveling through airports. “Sharing information about passengers is a sensitive subject, but our passenger survey shows that nearly three out of four air travelers would be willing to share personal information with governments to speed up security screening,” Tyler said, [according to an IATA press release (opens in a new tab)](http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/Pages/2012-10-16-01.aspx) . The TSA agrees: “If you are willing to share a little more information, then you can have a much better experience,” TSA head John Pistole said. “We can then spend more time on those we know the least about.” The group plans to test the concept in airports by late 2014. Think airport security needs a refresh — or does another part of the travel process need it a little more? Let us know in the comments. (IATA photo) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#AI](https://associationsnow.com/tag/ai/) [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#passenger screening](https://associationsnow.com/tag/passenger-screening/) [#risk assessment](https://associationsnow.com/tag/risk-assessment/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [TemplateMembers onlyInformation Technology Assessment Request for ProposalMarch 8, 2006](https://associationsnow.com/2006/03/08/information-technology-assessment-request-for-proposal/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2012%2F10%2F16%2Finternational-air-transport-association-wants-airport-security-changes%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !