US bumps up air security

THE United States government is introducing new aviation security requirements for airliners flying to American ports, designed to combat terrorist groups.

Announced overnight, all international carriers flying into the USA will be subjected to the enhanced security checks as the world faces “an adaptive and agile enemy”, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said.

The DHS said terrorists were continuing to target passenger aircraft, “and we have seen a ‘spider web’ of threats to commercial aviation as terrorists pursue new attack methods”.

A total number of 180 airlines from 105 countries that carry an average of approximately 325,000 pax on around 2,100 flights into the USA every day will be required to adhere to new screening procedures of pax and electronic devices.

Enhancements will see beefed up security protocols around aircraft and in passenger areas at airports, the deployment of advanced technology, expanding canine screening & establishing extra preclearance locations.

DHS said it would work with the Transport Security Administration and aviation stakeholders over coming weeks and months to adopt the procedures, and those who failed to implement the requirements within specific timeframes ran the risk of further security restrictions.

The Department of Homeland Security said the measures “will help to secure all commercial flights departing from 280 airports that serve as last points of departure to the USA”.