ACI-NA Files Comments On U.S.-Canada Action Plan Regarding Air Travel And Trade

Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) today submitted comments in response to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Request for Public Comments regarding “U.S.-Canada Action Plan for Perimeter Security and Economic Competiveness”. In the filed comments, ACI-NA applauded the plan announced on December 7, 2011 by President Obama and Prime Minister Harper as “a good first step in improving the facilitation and security of trade, air travel, and the associated economic benefits for both countries”. The comments also stressed the importance of the U.S. and Canadian Governments coordinating with ACI-NA on the aviation components as the Action Plan is refined and implemented.

“ACI-NA has long urged the Department to take a risk-based approach to security by focusing our limited government and industry resources on those people and goods about which the least is known,” said ACI-NA President Greg Principato (pictured). “Therefore, we were pleased that the Declaration by President Obama and Prime Minister Harper on February 4, 2011 stated ‘we expect to use a risk management approach’ and that ‘effective risk management should enable us to accelerate legitimate flows of people and goods into the United States and Canada and across our common border, while enhancing the physical security and economic competitiveness of our countries’.”

ACI-NA’s comments also noted the importance of the process outlined in the Action Plan to phase out the requirement for rescreening connecting checked baggage arriving at U.S. gateway airports. “We view this initiative as providing one of the most important aviation improvements in the Action Plan”, said Principato.

“For years, ACI-NA has been working on potential solutions with TSA, DHS and Congress to eliminate this redundant rescreening process because it unnecessarily drains limited TSA and industry resources and inconveniences passengers without providing meaningful security benefits. Elimination of rescreening of connecting checked baggage will free up some TSA resources, minimize the operational burden on U.S. airports; decrease flight delays; minimize misconnected checked baggage; and improve the passenger travel experience.”

FMI: www.aci-na.org