To ensure additional security at its airports, Germany has approved a draft amendment to change some rules in the Aviation Security Act.
As the Federal Ministry of Interior has explained, the draft law introduces several changes that are aimed at punishing unauthorised entry to the airside and carrying prohibited items.
As part of the move to offer more security at airports, Germany will punish unauthorised individuals entering airport runways, also known as the airside, with a prison sentence of up to two years or a fine.
Until now, unauthorised entry to the airside has only been punishable by a fine. However, since this measure has not proved to be effective, the authorities decided to tighten the measure and instead punish such acts with a prison sentence.
Commenting on the matter, the German Minister of Interior, Nancy Faeser, said that unauthorised individuals entering the airside cause disruption and pose a risk for many “innocent bystanders”.
The fact that there have been repeated incidents of this kind recently shows that the rule of law must punish these acts more severely. That is why we are now creating a new criminal offense instead of the previous fine offense.
In addition, Minister Faeser said that this measure is not enough and called on the airports to do more to protect their facilities.
Individuals Carrying Prohibited Items Will Be Punished With up to 5 Years of Imprisonment
Germany will also tighten its rules for people carrying prohibited items without authorisation at the airport’s airside.
People who are not authorised to enter the airside of an airport and who carry prohibited items such knives, weapons, or poisonous substances, among others, will be punished with up to five years of imprisonment.
Stressing the importance of this measure, Federal Transport Minister Dr. Volker Wissing said that the country would no longer tolerate any “legal vacuum”.
Wissing further noted that such cases would be punished with full severity in the future and that the country’s airports would be able to avoid unnecessary disruptions during the peak travel season.
Anyone who violently enters airports, occupies runways, and blocks aircraft is endangering human lives. This is not a trivial matter but will be punished with full severity in the future.
German airport operators are required to offer security in all areas, including the airside. These measures will significantly help them in tackling any irregularities that might occur in the future.
