YEMENIA, IATA IN TALKS

GENEVA, Jan. 25 (Saba) - Chairman of the board of directors of Yemenia Airways Abdul Khaliq al Qadi met on Monday with chief executive of the Air Transport Association (IATA) Giovanni Bisignani.

The Geneva meeting dealt with the latest precautionary measures taken at world airports to fill gaps that terrorists could take advantage of targeting passenger jets.

The two also discussed in the meeting, held at the IATA's Headquarters, cooperation between the Yemeni national carrier and the IATA on raising the level of precautionary measures to avoid possible unilateral steps at some airports.

Al-Qadi affirmed Yemenia follows perfect safety and security measures aboard its airplanes, saying the company pays more attention to inspecting the aircraft.

He also said that the firm gives attention to qualify and train its staff, pointing to a training program underway coordinated with specialized firms including the IATA which is expected to coordinate with European authorities and airports for the program.

Al-Qadi earlier attended the meeting that gathered heads of world civil aviation firms and a U.S. high ranking security delegation led by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.

The meeting, which was also attended by civil aviation experts, focused on recent precautionary measures at world airports after the botched Christmas Day attack on a U.S.-bound passenger jet.

At the meeting, the IATA and other civil aviation firms put forward practical proposals taking into account respecting the humanity and personality of passengers and that can also help firms to avoid long delay of takeoff and losses, said al Qadi.

Participants also called for the modernization of aviation security system technology as well as helping airports in developing countries to improve their infrastructure performance through providing them with modern inspection systems and building up the capacity of their staffs, he said.

He affirmed that Yemenia plans to take action to avoid unnecessary measures at some world airports, saying the firm in coordination with international firms will work with concerned authorities in the country to boost security at national airports in line with fresh measures at international airports.

FR