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FEATURE CARGO SECURITY

sometimes need persuading to put cargo these options involve a considerable cost. Air cargo plays a
at the heart of their economic strategies. He says it is very expensive to “develop a critical role in driving
high level of security surveillance systems
Second (and third, and fourth) view for efficient security checks that screen economic growth
But the problem with a neat and universally travellers and personal baggage to allow and development
applied air cargo regime is not just that rapid throughput of individuals while still but this is not always
some cargo specialists have decades- providing a high level of security”.
old fleets that fly to some of the world’s Leong is absolutely right, and as fully appreciated by
more disreputable airports which may or Tyler observed earlier, the cost of governments
may not be keen on paper (or electronic) air cargo is crucial to its successful
work. It is that everybody wants to be an expansion. He says that last year saw – Tony Tyler
expert, and use their set of rules that a 2% decline in both air cargo demand
everybody else bends to and applies. The and yields, and that although “there are
US Department of Homeland Security, early signs that an upturn is on the way
the World Customs Organisation (WCO) […] we must strengthen the industry’s
the European Union, ICAO, and many
sovereign states all think they know best.
“Since 9/11, standards for security ASIAN ExPANSION
set by ICAO, IATA, EU and state authority According to Boeing’s annual aviation forecast, Asia will continue to lead
have been developed and applied the world air cargo industry in average annual growth rates, with domestic
China and intra-Asia markets expanding 8.0% and 6.9% per year, respectively.
through the world with varying degrees Latin America markets with North America and with Europe will grow at
of success,” notes Alfred Leong of the approximately the average 5% to 6% growth rate, as will Middle East markets
Asian Professional Security Association with Europe. The more mature North America and Europe markets reflect
(APSA), Singapore Chapter, in a report. slower and thus lower-than-average traffic growth rates.
He observes that on a business front, all
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