Press Release

Following the relative ease with which an alleged terrorist boarded a commercial airliner carrying an explosive on 25 December, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) today urged the Obama administration and US Federal Government agencies to not rely on luck to keep travelers safe, but to work diplomatically with their global counterparts to ensure that the most effective security systems are in place and to conduct a complete review of how the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) manages and maintains No Fly / Watch lists. According to Richard Crum, ACTE President, the recent near success of an individual to bring down a commercial airliner raises serious questions regarding the effectiveness of screening programs especially the viability of “No Fly” lists – whose management is under the jurisdiction of DHS’s Transportation Security Administration. Until such reviews are conducted and corrective actions taken ACTE remains very concerned for the safety and security of all travelers worldwide. 

“An admission by U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Secretary, Janet Napolitano that the current system did not work  and that the No Fly / Watch lists need to be better linked and processes reviewed raises serious questions regarding the effectiveness of current protocols,” stated Crum. “In the December 25th attempted attack, an international traveler who had already been placed on a watch list, and who bought his ticket with cash and boarded without luggage and with explosives, went unchallenged and was not subject to an interview nor tighter inspection. This individual was able to sidestep a number of red flags, any one of which should have kept him from boarding the aircraft,” said Crum.

 

Crum also warned of the tendency to implement short-sighted security measures that are high on public visibility, but low on effectiveness in deterring illegal as well as terrorist activity. “We believe that safety is paramount however we were pleased to see the lifting of stop-gap security procedures that impede the flow of business travel and the productivity of millions of business travelers.” stated Crum. 

 

The number of names on various government watch lists — particularly the “No Fly” list — has been the subject of contention for years. According to various sources, the number of names on these lists vary from 7,800 (TSA) to over a million (American Civil Liberties Union). A recent report pegged one list at 550,000 names. “These lists contain the names of hundreds of thousands of travelers who have nothing to do with terrorism, but who are routinely delayed, searched, and interviewed for flight after flight. Yet it is still possible for one individual, armed with an explosive, named on one list, be denied entry to Great Britain, and still get on a plane without even being questioned. This is more than just a random failure of one segment of a system. It is an indictment of the whole program.” Said Crum.

ACTE has maintained for years that the watch list procedures needs to be overhauled. In recent communications sent by ACTE to U.S. President Barack Obama, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, the association emphasized that a complete review of DHS’s list management practices be conducted immediately and indicated it remains ready to assist in any way that it can. 

 

ABOUT ACTE:  

The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) represents the global business travel industry through its international advocacy efforts, executive level educational programs, and independent industry research. ACTE's membership consists of senior travel industry executives from 82 countries representing the €463 billion business travel industry. Our members serve more than 12 million business travellers worldwide. With the support of sponsors from every major segment of the business travel industry, ACTE develops and delivers educational programs in key business centers throughout the world. ACTE has representation in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and the United States. For more information on ACTE, please go to www.acte.org. 

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