Departures, arrivals and security

As of July 6, 2014 the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has decreed that only one person will be allowed to accompany passengers departing from airports across the country, and only one person will be allowed to meet passengers at airport arrival areas. This single person can be a family member or friend and the decision represents a sea change in attitudes to airport security. We are used to having our airports thronged with not only those coming and going but their innumerable relatives, followers, fans and other well-wishers who collectively present a significant problem in terms of airport security. There are vast amounts of unchecked and unscreened luggage in the national and international departure areas capable of holding items of use to terrorists, and there are equally very large numbers of people milling around who are not travellers and who are also unscreened. Limiting the numbers allowed to meet and greet at least reduces the chances of an organised group of terrorists gaining access en masse.



The CAA imposition of the restrictions is going to upset a lot of innocent people who wish to do nothing more than welcome or wave off their loved ones. Some may consider it an overreaction, and there are going to be instances in the coming days of angry reactions to the new arrangements. Regulating a previously unregulated flow of people at the airports is going to present logistical challenges to the CAA as well. It may be that pragmatic realities will force a rethink in terms of the numbers that meet and greet, but for now it is early days and we await developments. Airport security in Pakistan is poor overall. Perimeters are encroached everywhere, there are multiple agencies not always working well together who carry a security responsibility and there are groups within the country which see our airports as prime targets. Reducing the vulnerability of airports is an intelligence-led activity that has to mesh with civilian agencies that have poor meshing abilities. It may be that the CAA has taken a sledgehammer to crack a walnut, but if air travellers are safer for it then it is yet another inconvenience to bear.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 8^th, 2014.

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