IATA and Airports Council International (ACI) will jointly develop a security technology solution, aimed at strengthening security without inconveniencing the passengers.
The two partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deliver the synergies by drawing on the collective expertise and knowledge that both IATA and ACI have built over the year, International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in a press release here.
With the MoU, IATA and ACI, which is the sole global trade representative of the world's airport establishment, can better align their resources and expertise to improve the journey from curb to boarding, the release said.
"SmartS is the way forward. A lot has been learned from the component tests conducted over the last tow years. It forms the foundation for us to move confidently into the next phase of the development," IATA director general and chief executive Tony Tyler said in the release.
The checkpoint of the Future was launched in 2011 but in 2012, IATA and ACI together with aviation regulators defined roadmap for the future of passenger screening with blueprint for 2014, 2017 and 2020.
The blueprint detailed proposal that are operationally achievable and technically feasible by that timeframe. These roadmaps were adopted by ICAO's high-level conference on aviation security in 2012, IATA said.
Between 2012 and 2013, tests were conducted of the individual components in airports to assess how they would work in an operational environment including Geneva London Heathrow and Amsterdam airports among others, it said.
A touch point in the passenger journey that triggers a sense of dread is the security check. Through Smart Security, IATA and ACI will drive the needed change. Airports, airline, control authorities and system suppliers all have a role to play in making the process more effective, pleasant and transparent for passengers.
"Smart Security bring these stake holders together with the shared goal of transforming the security checkpoints for the benefit of all the travelling public," ACI Wold Director General Angela Gittens said.
With SmartS passengers will be able to proceed through security checkpoints with minimal inconvenience, security resources are allocated based on risk and airport facilities are optimized, IATA said.
