TBM Staff - Mumbai
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the UN’s aviation watchdog, has initiated an audit of India’s aviation security preparedness. This nine-day audit, involving 12 auditors from 10 countries, focuses on the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) at Delhi and Kolkata airports, evaluating areas like regulatory framework, airport operations, and in-flight security.
India, now the world’s third-largest domestic airline market, last underwent a similar audit in 2018, where ICAO questioned the independence of BCAS. Since then, India passed a bill in 2020 giving statutory status to regulatory bodies, allowing them to levy fines for violations. Recent hires at BCAS, including senior roles, reflect a strengthened focus on new threat areas like cybersecurity.
Despite no major security incidents in recent years, some mishaps have occurred, such as a Go First flight leaving behind passengers and an IndiGo flight delay incident leading to fines. India’s aviation safety readiness was upgraded by ICAO in 2022, with the effective implementation score rising to 85.49%, surpassing countries like China, Poland, and Denmark. The current security audit’s outcome could influence the international expansion plans of Indian airlines like IndiGo and Air India.
