Many of us have started the holidays by going through the airport security. Security, especially in the civil aviation sector, has become more and more important in the last decade. Moreover, private security companies are increasingly involved in ensuring the security of passengers, baggage and cargo.

CEN is publishing EN 16082 Airport and aviation security services. This European Standard specifies quality criteria for the delivery of civil aviation security services and requirements for private security companies in relation to their organisation and operations (insurances, operational continuity management...), staff management (recruitment and training) and contract management.

“The CEN Standard EN 16082 is an absolute first of its kind in terms of scope and approach. The Standard, initiated and fully driven by the private security services industry, is also a first step towards a much-needed and still non-existent European legal recognition of the quality aspect. In this respect, it is quintessential to recognise that quality of security services first of all addresses quality of the human factor (manpower) and not only the deployment of equipment and technology” said Mrs Hilde De Clerck, Chairman of CEN/TC 384 “Project Committee- Airport and Aviation Security Services” and General Secretary of COESS (Confederation of European Security Services).

The development of this European Standard started in 2008. The standard was developed by CEN/TC 384 "Project Committee-Airport and Aviation Security Services", where different stakeholders from the private security sector, airport and civil aviation authorities, aviation companies, etc. are represented.

The standard, which is of voluntary application, will help to increase the quality of security services delivered by private companies to airports and airlines in Europe. It will also provide common guidelines to customers in order to be able to assess the quality of the security services offered and select a provider according to the relation between quality and price, rather than only settling for the lowest price bidder.

An increased quality of airport and aviation security services will benefit all the players in the civil aviation industry and contribute to a more secure start and end of holidays for all air passengers.

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