The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), and Airports Council International (ACI) have unveiled a coordinated effort to curb runway incursions, a persistent safety challenge that demands tighter collaboration across the aviation ecosystem. Announced on 28 July 2026, the Joint Runway Safety Initiative targets the root causes of incidents where aircraft, vehicles, or people stray into active runway zones or protected areas.
Runway incursions remain one of the most serious operational risks in global aviation, with consequences that can range from costly delays to catastrophic accidents. The new initiative is designed to give airlines, airports, and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) a shared framework to identify hazards earlier and act before they escalate.
Three pillars of action
The initiative concentrates on three core areas: improving safety reporting and data capture, strengthening Local Runway Safety Teams (LRSTs), and facilitating the exchange of progress and lessons learned. By standardizing how incidents and near-misses are recorded and analyzed, the partners aim to surface patterns that individual stakeholders might miss.
Local Runway Safety Teams are already a cornerstone of runway safety efforts at many airports, bringing together controllers, airport operators, airlines, and ground handlers. The new program will provide these teams with enhanced tools, checklists, and risk-assessment resources developed by IATA, CANSO, and ACI, helping them translate guidance into concrete local action.
“This initiative brings airlines, airports, and air navigation service providers together to identify runway risks earlier and take coordinated action,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety, and Security. His comments underscore the need for a unified approach, as runway safety cannot be achieved by any single stakeholder alone.
Andrea Sack, Senior Vice President for Global Operations at CANSO, emphasized the role of frontline collaboration. “Strong Local Runway Safety Teams bring controllers, airports, airlines, and other operational partners together to identify risks and agree on practical actions,” she said. The initiative will support these teams with structured methodologies and shared data.
Darryl Dowd, Vice President of Safety, Security, and Operations at ACI World, highlighted the importance of airport-level knowledge. “Local knowledge and sustained collaboration are what turn safety guidance into real reductions in risk,” he noted, pointing to the need for continuous engagement beyond initial training.
Building on global frameworks
The Joint Runway Safety Initiative aligns with existing international efforts, including the Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Incursions (GAPPRI) and the ICAO Global Runway Safety Action Plan. It will leverage the collective expertise of the three organizations, offering a suite of practical resources such as risk-assessment tools and runway safety checklists that can be adapted to local conditions.
For airlines, the initiative promises clearer data on hotspot locations and contributing factors, enabling more targeted crew training and operational adjustments. For airports, it provides a structured way to engage with all parties operating on the airfield. For ANSPs, it offers a platform to share best practices in air traffic control procedures and communication protocols.
The launch comes as the industry continues to recover from pandemic-era disruptions, with traffic volumes rising and new entrants joining the workforce. Maintaining a sharp focus on runway safety is critical to ensuring that growth does not come at the expense of safety.
Travel professionals across the sector—from airline executives to airport managers—will be watching how the initiative translates into measurable improvements. The emphasis on data sharing and local teamwork is a pragmatic step toward reducing the frequency and severity of incursions worldwide.
As the program rolls out, IATA, CANSO, and ACI will publish progress updates and case studies, allowing the industry to learn from both successes and setbacks. The ultimate goal is simple: fewer runway incursions, and a safer operating environment for everyone.
