SITA, the global provider of border security and IT solutions to government, airlines and airports, has announced the formation of the Secure Journeys Working Group to tackle airport security threats in the USA.
The group will work toward creating a secure and efficient passenger experience throughout the airport while keeping travelers safe.
Its creation is in response to the current security climate and recent attacks on non-secure airport areas. Members cite the Brussels airport bombing in 2016 and the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting earlier this year as examples that demonstrate the need to rethink the approach to getting passengers through the airport quickly and safely.
David Menzel, sales director-government markets at SITA and founding member of Secure Journeys, commented, “As the US government looks for answers to a new set of threats [that] passengers face, Secure Journeys will identify solutions to common ‘soft target’ challenges, passenger screening and insider threats and develop a set of recommended standards for US airports to adopt.
“We look forward to continuing work with the department of homeland security and our airline and airport partners to make America’s airports safer and improve the overall passenger experience from reservation to destination.”
The Group will also tackle other growing challenges, including reducing security wait time to reduce lines of people in non-secure areas, incorporating biometrics for passenger screening authentication, and addressing ways in which identity management solutions can be used along with data analytics to reduce concerns around insider threats.
Brian Cobb, vice president of customer services at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), said, “Because CVG is a mid-market airport, we have the unique ability to quickly test the effectiveness of emerging technology on security and efficiency.
“As a member of Secure Journeys, we can use our knowledge to help shape recommendations to the TSA (Transport Security Administration) and CBP (Customs and Border Protection) based on real-world experience rather than untested concepts. We look forward to collaborating as a community to ensure the safety and convenience of the traveling public.”
Secure Journeys is an expansion and evolution of SITA’s Border Automation User Group, which was formed in 2015 to facilitate the implementation of the US Customers and Border Protection’s (CBP) automated passport control program.