In the challenging business of keeping Europe’s air travellers safe, it seems that the only constant is change. Passenger and freight volumes are continuing their revival (as per ACI EUROPE’s recent review of its member airports), placing further pressure on the capacities of Europe’s airports in terms of space and throughput. New threats thrown up by increasingly turbulent world politics and evolving cyber warfare mean that now more than ever, nothing but a common approach can hope to meet the shared goals of the many parties involved.
Common goals for Europe’s security leaders
As the 12th Security and Border Control Summit meets at ACI Airport Exchange in Paris this November, the industry’s goals are clear. Premises, processes and people must all be ‘best in class’ to ensure a quality of delivery that makes passengers feel respected as guests, not statistics.
As processes and regulations change to mitigate the evolving threats, it’s frequently the air traveller’s experience of the process that ultimately suffers. Regulatory changes have the potential to redefine the airport security experience. The challenge is to maintain a positive overall passenger experience, and airports are striving to minimise waiting times and inconvenience to travellers, while maintaining stringent security levels.
In its recent ‘Policy Outlook’ study, ACI EUROPE suggests that fully 40% of an airport’s staff headcount can be attributed to the security process, accounting for 35% of its operating costs. It’s imperative to the health of the industry that this resource is applied efficiently, through training, technology and careful considering of the phasing of regulations.
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At last year’s ACI Airport Exchange in Doha, the security industry looked beyond technology alone, to the role that people play in facilitating the travel experience. At November’s Security and Border Control Summit in Paris, some of the world’s most forward-thinking airports will share their experience of adapting to new threats, while changing their mindsets to provide security as a service.
A common approach needs dialogue
A precursor to progress must be honest sharing of the successes and failures of the industry, with airports, airlines, regulators and suppliers all set to gain. Success stories to be celebrated at the Security and Border Control Summit include Copenhagen Airport, which took home the 2014 Skytrax Award for best security processing in recognition of its impressive queue times, fast track processes and staff interaction.
A key example of the frank discussion of what can be learnt from past failures will come from TAV Airports, regrettably hacked in the summer of 2010 but sharing the results of a concerted effort to ring-fence its systems to prevent future breaches.
The event is also designed to bring together stories of success, where potential conflicts of interest have been carefully navigated. Key representatives from the event’s host, Aéroports de Paris, will present alongside an airline, regulator and supplier involved in recent developments at the facility.
The 12th Security and Border Control Summit takes place at ACI Airport Exchange, at the CNIT in Paris, 3-5 November 2014. Foremost figures from the world of airport security will present their own experiences, and discuss the most important issues facing the industry today, such as the challenges that face the modern day hub, the use of technology to realise goals, and the most efficient ways to deliver a ‘best in class’ experience for passengers.
Book before 19 September to receive up to 25% discount.
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» View the full Security and Border Control Summit conference agenda
