Joint Runway Safety Initiative. Photo: Shutterstock The aviation industry's leading organizations have joined forces to address one of the most persistent safety challenges facing airports around the world: runway incursions.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO), and Airports Council International (ACI) announced a new Joint Runway Safety Initiative aimed at reducing the number of incidents involving aircraft, vehicles, or people mistakenly entering active runways or their protected areas.
While commercial aviation remains one of the safest forms of transportation, recent runway incursions have highlighted the need for continued vigilance. Several incidents in recent years have resulted in fatalities, reinforcing calls for stronger collaboration across the aviation sector.
The initiative will focus on three key priorities: improving safety reporting and data collection, strengthening Local Runway Safety Teams, and sharing lessons learned across the global aviation community.
Under the program, airlines, airports, air navigation service providers, regulators, and frontline personnel will be encouraged to report incidents, near misses, and other observations that could help identify risks before they lead to accidents.
"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, Senior Vice President of Operations, Safety, and Security at IATA.
Local Runway Safety Teams will play a central role in the effort, bringing together controllers, airport operators, airlines, and other stakeholders to assess risks and coordinate mitigation measures tailored to individual airports.
The initiative builds on existing global frameworks, including the Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Incursions and the ICAO Global Runway Safety Action Plan. It will also leverage existing tools such as runway safety checklists, risk assessment programs, and airport safety implementation packages.
Andrea Sack, Senior Vice President of Global Operations at CANSO, said runway safety relies on effective communication and coordinated decision-making throughout the airport environment.
Meanwhile, Darryl Dowd, Vice President of Safety, Security, and Operations at ACI World, emphasized that airports are uniquely positioned at the center of the aviation ecosystem, making collaboration essential to reducing operational risks.
As air traffic continues to grow globally, industry leaders hope the new initiative will help identify hazards earlier and prevent future runway incursions before they occur.