Security measures imposed after British police foiled an alleged plot to blow up planes are causing passengers anxiety and should be reviewed, an Asia-Pacific airline body said Friday.
"Far from providing passengers with improved security, the new measures have in many cases simply raised the level of public anxiety," said Andrew Herdman, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).
"This cannot form the basis of a secure and sustainable security regime going foward. "Passengers are demanding greater clarity and consistency, as well as restoration of common sense and practicality with regard to aviation security."
Tighter security measures have been imposed at various airports after British police in August scuttled an alleged plot to blow up planes flying from Britain to the United States.
New restrictions were also placed on passengers, with only essential items like money, tickets and medicine allowed to be taken aboard. AAPA members are in favour of tight security measures but believe it will only be effective when these are implemented rationally and in a co-ordinated manner, Herdman said.
"Better harmonised measures need to be put in place quickly in order to restore public confidence that good security does not need to be associated with emotional distress and grave inconvenience.
"Good security is all about good threat assessment and balanced risk management, not the elimination of every conceivable risk." AAPA is the trade association of 17 airlines based in the Asia Pacific. Collectively, its members carry about one-fifth of global passenger traffic and one-third of global cargo traffic.
Its members are Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, China Airlines, Dragonair, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Thai Airways and Vietnam Airlines.