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United Nations Security Council passes historic resolution on aviation security.

The safety of air passengers was the focus of an historic United Nations (UN) resolution unanimously adopted on Thursday 22 September in New York. Led by the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, all members of the UN Security Council agreed that more should and could be done to improve aviation security across the world.

The attack against a Daallo Airways flight from Mogadishu in February and against the Metrojet aircraft in Sinai, as well as recent attacks on airports at Brussels and Istanbul are a tragic reminder of the terrorist threats facing air travel. As well as the obvious risks to life, aviation threats damage economies and trading relationships, meaning the knock on effect of attacks can be felt across the world.

Speaking after the resolution was adopted, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said:

“The threat to aviation is very real and it is growing, and we need a global approach to airline and airport security. That is what this historic resolution achieves.

“This is a global problem - what we are achieving by this resolution is encouraging international civil aviation organisation standards to be applicable across airports around the world, and providing the technical assistance that is absolutely invaluable to make that happen.”

This was the first ever UN Security Council resolution on aviation security and it makes clear the Security Council’s resolve to protect its citizens from the threat posed by terrorists to air travel. This resolution focuses on ensuring that all countries put in place practical and sustainable security measures to safeguard aviation against possible terrorist attacks.

The resolution makes clear that all countries need to work with and through the international regulatory body, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), to ensure that international standards keep pace with the threat. It also calls for training and other technical assistance to support all countries to develop even more effective aviation security measures.

Notes to editors:

1. The Foreign Secretary was addressing members of the UN Security Council during the UN General Assembly High Level Week.

2. Britain is one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, along with America, France, China and Russia. There are also 10 non-permanent members, elected on a regional basis to serve two-year terms.