“Proposed security changes are going to cost the industry money. I think the money should come from the government, because this is a matter of public and national security,” said Kempinski.

Kempinski and other IAM airline representatives have worked on airline security issues for years. Here are some of the recommendations the IAM has made to ensure the safety and security of airline employees and passengers:

- Upgrade the security employees’ job to a professional level, with much higher rates of pay and benefits.

- Trained federal agents should staff screening checkpoints, with assistance from specially trained airline employees. 

- The catering, maintenance and cleaning of aircraft should be performed by airline employees.

- Passengers should be subject to a second, final screening (including metal detectors and an X-ray of all carry-on bags) just prior to entering the jetway or airplane.

- There should be a visible military presence inside the airports and armed sky marshals (uniformed and non-uniformed) on all flights.

- Flight crew credentials should be routinely checked to ensure all crew members boarding the aircraft are scheduled for that flight.

- Conduct routine searches (with and without bomb-sniffing dogs) of aircraft interiors after cleanings and prior to takeoff.