International Air Transport Association Empowers Airlines and Airports with New SeMS Certification for Enhanced Security

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has unveiled the IATA Security Management System (SeMS) Certification Program, aimed at bolstering aviation security. This certification initiative is accessible to various stakeholders in the aviation sector, including airlines, airports, cargo handling facilities, freight forwarders, ground handling service providers, and security service providers.

The SeMS framework offers organizations a structured set of operating principles and guidance, enabling them to improve security performance by actively managing risks, threats, and challenges that could undermine their operations. Although SeMS is not currently a mandatory aviation security management system, its adoption is encouraged by IATA, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and major aviation regulatory authorities globally.

To develop a certification framework tailored to diverse industry participants, IATA conducted a comprehensive case study involving key players such as Japan Airlines, Brisbane Airport Corporation, CACC Cargolinx, Worldwide Flight Services Inc., and Mozambique Airport Handling Services (MAHS).

The SeMS Certification Program employs a tiered strategy to accommodate organizations at different stages of SeMS maturity:

The IATA SeMS Certification Program is part of a broader strategy for SeMS adoption that includes: