The International Air Transport Association (IATA) seeks to harmonise passenger screening and other security measures at airports in the Gulf.

Describing security measures at airports worldwide as costly and an 'unco-ordinated mess,' IATA director-general Giovanni Bisignani said, adding that 'the Middle East could become a model area' for adopting uniform security processes.

He said the region's relatively smaller size and new airports made it easier to adopt a uniform system for passenger and document checks and baggage handling.

'We are looking to launch an initiative to harmonise airport security across the region, beginning with the Gulf states and technology will play a big role,' he said.

Among the improvements in airport processes are the common use self-service kiosks that can be used by passengers for check-in and self-tagging of bags. IATA aims to integrate them into airport security processes, IATA said in a statement.

'We have discussed this initiative with many carriers. There are new efforts and technologies. Let's try to implement a certain kind of harmonised set of rules in order to make the passenger experience more pleasant,' he said.

Airport security has increased worldwide since the September 2001 terror attacks. – TradeArabia News Service