All incoming flights to the United States will be subject to new security screening procedures before takeoff, including both American citizens and foreign travelers possibly facing security interviews from airline employees.
All US-bound flights are required to undergo new strict security measures including strict passenger screening starting from Thursday, Oct.26. According to the airline companies, the measures include government requirements designed to ban laptops in-cabin.
US will also initiate short security interviews with passengers. These rules will affect 325,000 airline passengers on about 2,000 flights arriving daily in the US which means 180 airlines from 280 airports in 105 countries will be affected.
With the newly imposed security measures, passengers could encounter longer queues for check-in or boarding the international flights to America.
Previously, US restricted electronic devices on planes arriving from 10 airports in eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa but those restrictions were removed in July. But now the restrictions which are under the Trump administration could be stricter if airlines and airports will not be able to enhance the security.
Lufthansa said that their passengers could encounter short security interviews at check-in or at the gate. The airline also informed that the passengers to arrive airport 90 minutes before departure. Likewise, Cathay Pacific also informed their passengers of new security measures and advised them to arrive three hours before departure.
A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) spokeswoman declined to discuss the specific changes but said “the United States continues to work with our partners to raise the baseline of global aviation security and keep the entire traveling public safe.”
The TSA said in July it was imposing new security rules requiring US domestic airline travelers to remove all electronic items larger than mobile phones such as tablets, e-readers and video game consoles from carry-on baggage for screening.
