Airline Group Urges Governments to Aid Fight on Terrorism

Executives from the world’s major airlines condemned terrorism Tuesday and called on governments to shoulder more of the burden of paying to protect civilian passengers, aircraft and airports.

“Acts of terrorism are aimed at governments, not at airlines,” said David Coltman, managing director of British Caledonian Airways.

A resolution unanimously approved by delegates from the 147-member International Air Transport Assn. (IATA) called on governments to implement fully all existing international agreements requiring countries to bring accused terrorists to trial or to extradite them.

The delegates, wrapping up a two-day annual meeting, called for the agreements to be expanded to cover attacks on airports as well as airplanes.

“Basically, it reaffirms a commitment to work together to strengthen security and collectively lobby governments to give even higher priority to the problem by increasing funding and training of security personnel,” said Richard Mathias, a senior vice president for Pan American World Airways.