Africa agrees to step up aviation security plans

States from across Africa have agreed in Dakar, Senegal, to work together and with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to improve aviation security.

The President of the Regional Conference, Harold Demuren of Nigeria, lauded the development as an important step in enhancing aviation security in Africa and around the world.

"Africa’s recognition of the need for action to address the terrorist threat, whatever form it may take, is truly inspiring because it contributes to a global solution to the global problem," Dr Demuren said.

Representatives from 35 African states agreed on a joint statement calling the ICAO Declaration a "comprehensive" global policy framework for strengthening aviation security through international cooperation.

The states pledged to implement all of the declaration’s elements, while taking into account the regional Abuja Declaration and its Roadmap on Aviation Security adopted by African States in Abuja, Nigeria, last year.

The Representatives called on ICAO to work with the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) to further develop the African roadmap in light of the assembly declaration.

In this regard, they recognised the need to focus on enhancing aviation security through intensified, cooperative efforts to address security deficiencies and strengthen security systems, notably, through sharing of information and best practices.

In addition to national civil aviation authorities, a number of regional organisations participated in the Dakar meeting, including AFCAC, the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism, the East African Community, the Economic Community of Central African States and the West African Economic and Monetary Union.

Experts from Europe and the United States were also on hand to discuss partnership opportunities that could benefit aviation security.

The Conference was the second in a series of events promoting regional action to implement the ICAO declaration, and provided an opportunity for States in Africa to address the related challenges and identify solutions.

Product placement

The regional conferences are expected to culminate in a global, high-level security conference in MontrÈal in September next year.

Declaration on Aviation Security adopted unanimously by ICAO’s 37th Assembly this month.

Meanwhile, charging for extra leg room on flights, selling frequent-flyer points to credit card companies and collecting fees for product placement will help hard-pressed airlines boost their ancillary sales by more than 40 per cent this year.

While budget airlines – industry-leaders in ancillary revenue raising – have often come under fire for practices such as credit card and baggage fees, now different carriers across the world are following in their footsteps, according to travel technology provider Amadeus.

In its second global study of ancillary revenues, the group found that sales this year from offering products and services outside their core transport business will rise by 28 per cent at flag carriers and other traditional airlines, just slightly behind the 33 per cent growth at low-cost carriers.

The most aggressive companies have been the big US airlines, which are set to nearly double their ancillary sales year-on-year, helping push up the global total by 44 per cent to an estimated $32.5 billion.

The International Air Transport Association is forecasting worldwide commercial airline revenues of $594bn this year.

Half of the growth in ancillary revenues, Amadeus estimates, has come on the back of rising volumes of air travellers as the global economy begins to recover from the credit crunch and recession.

But the other half is down to clever thinking by airlines which let customers "tailor their travel" with a la carte products rather than simply pick between economy and business or first-class tickets.

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