UK strengthens security: Introduces no-fly list, bans Yemenia
Thursday January 21, 2010
The UK revealed a further set of measures to enhance aviation security, including introduction of a "no-fly" list, suspension of Yemenia Yemen Airways' direct flights "pending enhanced security" and its intention to "promote enhancements to the international aviation security regime, including stronger security arrangements in airports and greater sharing of information" with ICAO, the EU and G8 nations.
"I can announce today that as well as extending our watchlist, we intend for the first time to use the watchlist as the basis for two new lists: First a no-fly list, and second a larger list of those who should be subject to special measures including enhanced screening prior to boarding flights bound for the UK," Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in a statement to the House of Commons yesterday. He vowed that "over the coming months we will go further in taking action against people before they even board a plane to the UK."
As a result of a £1.2 billion ($1.97 billion) investment in its e-Borders system, the UK by year end will "be able to check all passengers traveing from other countries to all major airports and ports in the UK, whether they are in transit or whether the UK is their final destination, by checking against the watchlist 24 hours prior to travel and taking appropriate action," Brown said.
He also said the UK will "push for swift agreement" at EU level on the ability to collect and process data on passenger records, including travel within the EU, and on enforcement of the European Commission's recent approval of the transmission of advance passenger information to the e-Borders system by carriers based in other member states.
US President Barack Obama announced two weeks ago an initiative to strengthen watchlist procedures and intelligence gathering (ATWOnline, Jan. 8).
Brown yesterday called for more research "on the most sophisticated devices capable of identifying potential explosives anywhere on the body" and for "greater guarantees about security in those international airports from which there are flights into our country." The UK is introducing new body scanners at its airports beginning next week (ATW's Airports Today, January 2010).
by Cathy Buyck
