Mega airports bring fresh security challenges. A new generation of mega airports being developed in the Middle East to cope with major passenger and cargo traffic growth, presents the biggest challenge to aviation security in the region, an industry expert said at the Airport Show in Dubai.

Ahmad Al Haddabi, VP, Safety Programme and Airports Security for Abu Dhabi Airports Company, said a national aviation security master plan is being put in place in the UAE as aviation authorities face up to new threats which are emerging as the industry undergoes enormous expansion.

“New airports, especially the mega airports planned, require a new security approach,” Al Haddabi said at the Aviation Security Middle East conference. “Previously, you only had to consider the airside and the aircraft operations, but now you have a whole airport city to secure. As airports expand rapidly they require faster aircraft turnaround to cope with higher passenger numbers and increased air cargo traffic. This combines to create larger targets for interference, and as a result poses greater security risks.”

danielle@totalcompr.ae