CONTACT:      
Caleb Tiller, +1 703-684-0836 ext. 138, ctiller@nbta.org
Nicole Hayes, +1 703-684-0836 ext. 133, nhayes@nbta.org 

Association’s Appeal for International Aviation Cooperation Heard

Alexandria, VA (January 4, 2010) – The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) – the largest international association of business travel professionals – applauded the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Homeland Security for quickly implementing new regulations to protect the United States and travelers around the world. NBTA is pleased that U.S. officials will also be meeting with leaders from international airports to determine what additional security policies should be examined and implemented.

Michael W. McCormick, NBTA Executive Director & COO, said, “NBTA’s call for added security and international cooperation has been addressed, and travelers from across the globe can now rest assured their safety is the number one priority of governments around the world. The new TSA regulations will work to help protect international travelers and national security. These new rules will also keep businesses traveling and the lines of international commerce open in a time when economic boosts are needed most.”

The new TSA security directive, which goes into effect today, increases the use of screening technologies and mandates threat-based and random screening for passengers on U.S. bound international flights. Passengers flying into the United States through or from 14 countries that sponsor terrorism or are “of interest” will be required to go through enhanced airport security screening, including pat-downs and full body scans.

McCormick continued, “NBTA encourages governments and airports to strike the proper balance of safety and efficiency in these new regulations and future policy changes. On behalf of business travelers around the world, we plan to monitor the outcome of these new regulations, seeking feedback from the business travel community on convenience and safety. We are also hopeful that in addition to physical screening enhancements, the United States will work more closely with international bodies to address watch list procedures and risk management programs that should serve as tools to help improve the aviation security system.” 

The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and corporate meetings organization. NBTA and its regional affiliates – NBTA Australia / New Zealand, the Brazilian Business Travel Association (ABGEV), NBTA Canada, NBTA Europe, NBTA Mexico, and NBTA USA – serve a network of more than 17,000 business travel professionals around the globe with industry-leading events, networking, education & professional development, research, news & information, and advocacy. NBTA members, numbering more than 5,000 in 30 nations, are corporate and government travel and meetings managers, as well as travel service providers. They collectively manage and direct more than US$340 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually on behalf of more than 13 million business travelers within their organizations. For more information, visit www.nbta.org