IATA, CANSO and ACI Launch Global Runway Safety Initiative

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) and Airports Council International (ACI) have announced a joint initiative aimed at reducing runway incursions worldwide. A runway incursion occurs when an aircraft, vehicle or person is mistakenly present on a runway or its protected area, and such events have featured in IATA’s safety reports, sometimes with fatal outcomes.

The programme focuses on three priority areas: improving safety reporting and data capture of incidents and near‑misses; strengthening Local Runway Safety Teams that bring together airlines, airports, navigation service providers and regulators to assess and mitigate risks; and sharing progress, lessons learned and proven practices through tools such as risk‑assessment resources, runway‑safety checklists and the GAPPRI gap‑analysis tool. “Flying is the safest form of long‑distance travel. Maintaining that record requires a relentless focus on continuous improvement, supported by global standards, safety data and collaboration,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security. The initiative builds on existing ICAO‑led efforts such as the Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Incursions (GAPPRI).