Passengers flying from the UK face questions from guards

Passengers flying to the USA from all airports, including the UK, face the threat of chaos as airlines implement extra security checks before they board flights. 


From today all US-bound flights are being forced to comply with new security measures demanded by Washington in return for scrapping a ban on taking laptops onto a flight.

Under the crackdown specially trained security experts hired in from private firms could patrol passenger queues asking people questions about the purpose of their travel.

In addition to having electronic devices screened by machine, other measures could see some passengers being asked asked to turn their phones and laptops off to prove they have not been modified for terrorist purposes.

To minimize delays it is believed that the questioning will be carried out as passengers queue to check in or while they are queuing for security.

Airlines which fly from the UK to the US said passengers did not need to arrive more than the standard two hours before their flight. It means that if the new system does not go as planned passengers could find it takes them longer than expected to get through the airport and onto flights.

A spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration, the US body which is implementing the crackdown, told the Daily Telegraph: “We cannot discuss specific timelines or measures, but some were required immediately, while others will be implemented over time.

“The security measures affect all individuals, international passengers and US citizens, traveling to the United States from a last point of departure international location.

“Passengers may notice additional screening of their person, property, and electronic devices.”

The measures will affect 325,000 airline passengers on about 2,000 commercial flights arriving daily in the United States, on 180 airlines from 280 airports in 105 countries including the UK.

The United States announced the new rules in June to end its restrictions on carry-on electronic devices on planes coming from 10 airports in eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa in response to unspecified security threats.

Those restrictions were lifted in July, but the Trump administration said it could reimpose measures on a case by case basis if airlines and airports did not boost security.

A spokesman for the International Air Transport Association, which represents air carriers, said: "The new measures raise the bar on aviation security. They have required a significant amount of work on the part of airlines and airports.

TSA has demonstrated flexibility and a willingness to work with industry to achieve the goals of the new measures. Over the longer term  there needs to be a greater focus on mutual recognition of states’ measures and more of a risk-based approach when choosing locations for enhanced security measures

Source: KUNA