Air travel according to the US
2003-12-30 13:38
Cape Town - South African Airways' (SAA's) passengers should not be startled when they see armed cops on flights to the US; it is all part of America's campaign against terrorism.
United States officials have announced that any foreign airliner entering American airspace could be required to have armed police on board.
The South African Airways has confirmed to News24 that it has received a "notification" which explains the move by President George W Bush's administration to fight terrorism.
However, SAA could not divulge further details of the "notification".
SAA's corporate communications' manager, Happy Zondi, told News24 on Tuesday that the US was asking international air carriers to take the protective action as part of its ongoing fight against attacks.
According to media reports, the US has intercepted intelligence which indicates that al-Qaeda may try to hijack foreign airliners for a repeat of the September 11, 2001 attacks in which 3 000 died.
Zond said that the "notification" from the US indicates that US officials would notify SAA when air marshals were needed.
This, according to Zondi, would then mean that relevant South African law enforcement agencies would be informed to provide the logistical support.
The notification, Zondi explained, is on a flight-by-flight basis.
IATA criticises the US
Meanwhile, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Tuesday criticised a US government for the order.
It said if the measure was obligatory governments must pay.
"Our basic stance is that we do not want guns onboard the aircraft, we certainly don't want the cockpit to be armed," said IATA spokesperson Anthony Concil.
"If there are marshalls onboard the aircraft we ask that the captain be informed... and we also believe that the governments need to pay for that... the governments that are requiring it," he said.
On Monday, US Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge issued an emergency directive that foreign airlines to put armed police on flights where US officials deemed there was a terrorist threat.