Representatives of UK and U.S. industry and government meet to discuss aviation security collaboration

Representatives of the aviation industry from the UK and U.S. met with government officials from both countries last week in Washington for a roundtable discussion on security, International Airport Review reports.

The meeting was attended by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd, and Aviation Minister Baroness Liz Sugg, along with industry representatives from organizations including Heathrow and Manchester Airports, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and British Airways.

Rudd said that the stakeholders agreed that continued information and capability sharing is important for preventing terrorism. Nielsen said the roundtable was productive, and laid foundations for future engagements.

Information shared between airlines and government agencies on either side of the Atlantic could potentially include biometric data, which is increasingly being collected under programs like the Biometric Exit program. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is also looking into new uses for facial recognition at airports following the successful trial of a biometric boarding system.

Article Topics

aviation security  |  biometrics  |  data sharing  |  UK  |  United States