Government wants more security on flights to U.S.

WASHINGTON — The Homeland Security Department is demanding that airlines around the world step up security measures for international flights bound for the United States or face the possibility of a total electronics ban for planes.

Compliance with the new rules could lead to the lifting of a ban on laptops and other large electronics already in place for airlines flying to the United States from 10 airports in the Middle East and Africa. It could also stave off a muchdiscussed expansion of the ban to flights from Europe.

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly announced the rollout of the new rules Wednesday.

The changes will be phased in over time and include enhanced passenger vetting, explosives detection and efforts to root out insider threats to airlines.

“Security is my No. 1 concern,” Kelly said. “Our enemies are adaptive and we have to adapt as well.”

Kelly said the changes will be “seen and unseen” and will be phased in over the coming weeks and months.

He said airlines that don’t comply or are slow to enforce the new standards could be forced to bar large electronics in both carry-on and checked luggage. They could also lose permission to fly into the United States. He said he’s confident that airlines will cooperate.

The current ban, with affects only foreign carriers flying to the U.S. from 10 cities, allows passengers to travel with larger electronics packed in checked baggage.

The new rules will apply to roughly 180 foreign and U.S.-based airlines, flying from 280 cities in 105 countries, according to Homeland Security. About 2,000 international flights land in the United States daily.

Michael McCormick, director of the Global Business Travel Association, said Wednesday that airports will have to deploy enhanced explosive trace detention technology within 21 days and within six months add additional screening, detection dogs and other enhanced security measures.

He said his organization supports the new security measures because they will reduce the security risks but still allow passengers to use laptops and other electronics on international flights.