The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has strongly criticised the US White House for procrastinating on the introduction of technology that could reduce delays in air travel substantially. It has also lambasted the US administration for letting fear rather than facts dictate security checks.

IATA director-general Giovanni Bisignani noted that the aviation industry is now paying $5.9 billion a year to comply with a growing list of security regulations primarily because US regulations and mandated security checks affect the entire global air transportation system.

''I see more hassle than value, so let''s be open and transparent with the problems and the solutions. Too many knee-jerk security enhancement decisions are based on fear even though the threat hasn''t changed.

''We are wasting limited and precious resources. We must invest in new technology to help security become smarter, faster and easier to manage,'' Bisignani added.

The IATA DG said the global air regulator had already proposed the implementation of required navigation performance technology at the JFK airport, which would allow all four of the airport''s runways to be used at the same time.

Also, better taxiways and modern ground surveillance would allow for improved operations on airport aprons, even as next-generation air traffic management technology allows more aircraft to fly in closer proximity to each other.

The US government, Bisignani said, should implement the IATA worldwide scheduling guidelines and immediately implement operational and infrastructure improvements. ''There''s already a list of at least 75 projects that could begin tomorrow and we can''t wait any longer,'' Bisignani said in a speech to the Aero Club of Washington.

Instead, he said, America''s latest answer to growing congestion at its airports is higher taxes. ''The White House is considering peak pricing at New York JFK [John F Kennedy] airport as a band-aid for delays.

''Congestion pricing has never worked effectively for air transport anywhere in the world, so it is foolhardy to believe that it will work in New York,'' he added.