Flying to the U.S. will involve longer airport wait times
following the implementation of new security screening procedures for all
inbound flights.
Major airlines last week were urging passengers on inbound
U.S. flights to arrive at airports earlier to comply with the new directives,
which, depending on the airline, could include short interviews at the gates,
filling out additional forms and restricting certain kinds of baggage and
check-in services.
The new measures are part of a Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) initiative launched in June that led to the end of the ban on
carry-on laptops and tablet devices on U.S.-bound flights from 10 airports.
The new measures will affect some 2,100 flights per day from
around the world, according to the TSA, and will apply to all passengers flying
into the U.S. from an international airport.
"These measures, both seen and unseen, include enhanced
screening of passengers and electronic devices as well as heightened security standards
for aircraft and airports," said TSA press secretary Lisa Farbstein.
The U.S. Travel Association last week asked for more clarity
about the regulations and requested that travel disruptions be minimal.
"The American travel community continues to feel that
both security and economic objectives could benefit from hearing that these
policy moves are tailored to specific vulnerabilities," U.S. Travel
executive vice president for public affairs Jonathan Grella said in a
statement.
Grella said that while "security adjustments rooted in
legitimate concerns are a fact of life for travelers," it was also
essential that they be "clearly communicated and also continually
reassessed to ensure that they remain relevant -- and that disruption to
legitimate travel is kept to a minimum."
The trade groups IATA and Airlines for America both praised
the TSA for its flexibility in working with airlines on implementing the new
measures.
"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," IATA
spokesman Perry Flint said in an email.
Airline industry analyst Bob Mann of R.W. Mann and Co. said
the new screening procedures would have
an outsized impact on business travelers because they tend to arrive at
airports much closer to takeoff than leisure travelers.
"Initially, it has the potential to be a major
inconvenience for business customers in particular," he said.
Mann said that subjecting every passenger on every airline
in every market, on more than 2,100 flights a day, appears "indiscriminate
as opposed to risk-based."
He added: "Sadly, this is one of these cases where, due
to the lack of surgical intelligence, you have to throw a butterfly net over
everything.
"There has to be a balance between generalized
inconvenience and use of techniques that may divulge sources and methods of
intelligence."
Airlines vary in their approaches
The TSA did not specify what the additional screenings would
entail, but airlines will be approaching them in different ways.
The first phase of the DHS initiative was completed in late
July, when airlines were required to expand explosive trace testing.
"As we move forward, TSA will continue to work closely
with our aviation partners and verify that all security enhancements are
accurately implemented," Farbstein said.
"As threats continue to evolve, we and our partners
around the world will continue to work together to improve intelligence sharing
and standardize best practices, while also pursuing technological advancements
that will make flying more secure for everyone."
United and Delta were both telling passengers flying into
the U.S. to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their flight and
allow extra time to get through security, but the airlines did not say how they
were handling the additional screening requirements. American had issued no
notice as of press time.
Emirates, the airline based in Dubai, issued a statement
saying it would begin carrying out "prescreening interviews" at its
check-in counters for passengers flying out of Dubai and at boarding gates for
transit and transfer flyers.
It recommended that passengers flying through Dubai Airport
allow additional time for check-in and boarding.
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways said on its website
that it had suspended self-drop baggage and city check-in services for
passengers on flights to the U.S. and said passengers will be "subject to
a short security interview."
Air France will do enhanced screening via a questionnaire
handed to all passengers.
Germany's Lufthansa Group, parent to Lufthansa, Austrian
Airlines and Swiss, said in a statement that travelers to the U.S. might face
short interviews "at check-in, at document check or [at the] gate."
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Robert Silk contributed to this report.