Dusseldorf CEO suggests German airports should consider profiling

Germany's Dusseldorf Airport CEO Christoph Blume stated the country's airports should consider "profiling" passengers, stating the move could reduce the number of required security checks (AFP/Reuters, 28-Dec-2010). He also suggested frequent travellers with a clean record could get express security treatment. German police union GdP stated the measure could lead to discrimination. Mr Blume added he also supports the use of full-body scanners, which are being tested at Hamburg Airport. Germany's Government and police will make a decision in early 2011 on whether to use the technology.

Dusseldorf Airport: "Israel for example uses a risk-based approach. Passengers are put into various risk groups. Safe customers on whom there is sufficient data and who regularly fly the same route are not checked as much as passengers on whom there is no or little data. Germany should consider Israeli 'profiling'. Every new incident leads to further controls and security measures. This results in a race to upgrade equipment that at some point will reach their technological and operating limits. This way [through profiling], control systems could be more effectively employed for the well-being of all participants," Christoph Blume, CEO. Source: Reuters, 28-Dec-2010).