Travellers might have to face more hassle for international flights to the US as the airlines are starting to implement additional security measures.
The new security measures will be applied to more than 280 airports in 105 countries, however will not affect the domestic flights. The airlines covered by the new regulations announced last month by DHS secretary John Kelly were given time to implement them.
Starting from July 19, travellers from Colombia, Mexico and Canada would see the effects of the new rules. Airlines—a total of 180 will eventually be affected in total—are advising US-bound passengers to arrive earlier to the airport.
In the new rules, the overall security checks will be enhanced and the screening of the passengers’ electronic devices will be stricter. More dog teams will be deployed, and explosive-trace detection will be expanded. An average of 2,100 flights daily and 325,000 passengers will be affected.
Announcing the latest DHS plan, Kelly said that terrorist threat has not diminished, and that aviation remains a “crown jewel target.” The new checks are said to be a solution to avoid expanding the laptop ban the US imposed on nine airlines flying out of 10 airports in the Middle East and Africa.
