ShareWASHINGTON: US-bound travelers will face security interviews before checking in to flights at a number of global airlines beginning today as anti-terror measures are stepped up around the world. They 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. Lufthansa, Emirates, Air France and Norwegian Air confirmed to AFP yesterday that US authorities had asked for tougher controls at departure airports for non-stop flights to the United States. Other carriers and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) industry group confirmed the new measures.
"In addition to the controls of electronic devices already introduced, travelers to the USA might now also face short interviews at check-in, document check or gate," a Lufthansa spokesperson said. "The implementation will take place on October 26. The security of our passengers and staff is our top priority." Emirates said passengers would be subjected to "pre-screening interviews at the check-in counter" whereas Air France said it expected to apply an additional "security interview".
Cathay Pacific said it would halt services allowing passengers to check in luggage from downtown Hong Kong or curbside at the airport, and instead interview them at check-in gates. The airlines suggested that passengers arrive early for their flights to account for any additional delays caused by the new rules. Norwegian said that its passengers would receive instructions by SMS message and that check-in desks would open four hours before departure for flights to the United States.
"The new measures raise the bar on aviation security. They have required a significant amount of work on the part of airlines and airports," said Perry Flint, IATA assistant director for corporate communications. Flint praised the US Transport Security Administration for demonstrating "flexibility" in its imposition of the new measures. But he added: "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."
Airlines for America, a US trade group, said the changes "are complex security measures" but praised US officials for giving airlines flexibility in meeting the new rules. Alexandre de Juniac, CEO of the International Air Transport Association, said the industry understood security threats to aviation were made regularly but in this case the US government had not shared any specific dangers before changing the rules. "What we have seen is very strange," he told reporters in Taipei. "Unilateral measures announced without any prior consultation... That is something that is very concerning and disturbing."
At their annual meeting in Taipei, Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) members passed a resolution calling for security measures to be risk-based, outcome-focused and proportionate to the probable threat. "Unilateral actions taken by individual governments reacting to emerging threats may result in unnecessary disruption or lead to unintended safety consequences," said the members. AAPA includes most large Asian airlines but not mainland Chinese carriers. "The risk is other countries make similar demands," AAPA Director General Andrew Herdman said.
US authorities in June also increased security around aircraft and in passenger areas, and other places where travelers can be cleared by US officials before they depart. 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.
The new measures came as US President Donald Trump's administration is working to toughen controls on refugees and immigrants amid worries that groups like Islamic State and Al-Qaeda are both trying to send potential attackers into the United States and to smuggle bombs on board a US-bound flight. On Tuesday, Trump issued an executive order ending a moratorium on refugee arrivals but re-imposing controls on those coming from 11 countries, most of them with Muslim majorities.
Previously, the administration has banned laptops and larger electronics from cabins on flights from certain Middle East hubs, and has attempted to impose a blanket visa ban on some countries - a measure now tied up in court. The White House has insisted the new controls are designed as anti-terror safeguards but Trump's critics have accused him of unfairly targeting Muslims with blanket measures.
Last week US lawmakers from the House Homeland Security Committee visited airports in Europe and the Middle East to inspect security conditions and discuss counter-terror cooperation. "The timing of this visit to Europe and the Middle East was critical, as terrorists remain intent on taking down aircraft," said Representative John Katkoin a statement yesterday. "We must do all that we can to stay ahead of the evolving threat to the global aviation sector." - Agencies
