The United States on Wednesday unveiled enhanced security measures for flights to the country designed to prevent expanding an in-cabin ban on laptops, but an airline trade group said the changes might cause more disruptions.
The measures, which European and U.S. officials said would begin taking effect within three weeks, could require additional time to screen passengers and personal electronic devices for possible explosives.
The measures would 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.
The United States in March banned laptops on flights to the United States originating at 10 airports in eight countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey, to address fears that bombs could be concealed in electronic devices taken aboard aircraft.
Britain quickly followed suit with a similar set of restrictions.
The decision not to impose new laptop restrictions eases U.S. and European airlines' concern that expanding the ban to Europe or other locations could cause major logistical problems and deter travel.
"Inaction is not an option," U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told a news briefing, adding that he believed airlines would comply with the new screening. But he said the measures were not the last step to tighten security. U.S. carriers said they would follow the new security directive, but industry trade group Airlines for America (A4A), criticized Homeland Security for not working more closely with them on the new policies.
"The development of the security directive should have been subject to a greater degree of collaboration and coordination to avoid the significant operational disruptions and unnecessarily frustrating consequences for the traveling public that appear likely to happen," A4A Chief Executive Nicholas E. Calio said in a statement.
Kelly had been saying since April he thought an expansion of the laptop ban was "likely." He said in late May the government could potentially expand the ban worldwide.
Homeland Security officials told reporters they expected more than 99 percent of airlines would comply, a move that would effectively end the controversial electronics ban.
Airlines that fail to satisfy new security requirements could still face in-cabin electronics restrictions, Kelly said. "We expect all airlines will work with us to keep their aircraft, their crew and their passengers safe," he said.
European and U.S. officials told Reuters that airlines have 21 days to put in place increased explosive trace detection screening and have 120 days to comply with other security measures, including enhanced screening of airline passengers.
U.S. authorities want increased security protocols around aircraft and in passenger areas, expanded canine screening and additional places where travelers can be cleared by U.S. officials before they depart.
Since laptops are widely used in flight by business class passengers - who pay double or more than the average ticket price - the airline industry had feared expanding the ban could cut into revenue.
Airline officials told Reuters they were concerned about adding enhanced security measures to all airports worldwide that have direct flights to the United States rather than focus them on airports where threats are highest. European airline groups said in a document reviewed by Reuters that if the threats are confirmed, the restrictions should be deployed to cover all EU departing flights, not just U.S.-bound flights.
Homeland security officials said Wednesday that those 10 airports can get off the list if they meet the new security requirements, but did not say how long it will take.
U.S. airline stocks rose on Wednesday, with United Continental Holdings (UAL.N) closing up 1 percent, Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N) up 2 percent and American Airlines Group (AAL.O) up 1.6 percent.
Kelly said last week he planned a "step by step" security enhancement plan that included short, medium-term and longer-term improvements that would take at least a year to implement fully.
Reuters
Thu Jun 29 2017
The measures, which European and U.S. officials said would begin taking effect within three weeks, could require additional time to screen passengers and personal electronic devices for possible explosives. - REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo
Rebat tol 20 peratus untuk pengguna kerap LDP ditamatkan
Amanat Lebuhraya Rakyat Berhad (ALR) akan menamatkan program LITRAK Frequent Travellers Program (LFTP) berkuat kuasa 1 April depan.
Pantau Belanjawan: SMEs, local businesses' Industry 4.0 transformative journey
According to MITI in 2018, less than 21% of SMEs implemented this 4IR. Join Chan Leong, the CEO & Founder of Skribble, exploring the realignments and leverages of the adoption of Industry 4.0 among SMEs and local businesses.
Sindiket jual kad ATM tumpas, 2 pegawai bank antara 16 ditahan
Polis Selangor berjaya menumpaskan sindiket penjualan kad mesin juruwang automatik (ATM) untuk dijadikan keldai akaun dengan penahanan 16 individu termasuk dua pegawai bank.
Pintas Utama serah zakat perniagaan RM3 juta kepada Lembaga Zakat Selangor
Sultan Selangor berkenan mewakili Lembaga Zakat Selangor menerima serahan zakat perniagaan berjumlah RM3 juta.
Ibu didakwa aniaya anak lelaki hingga cedera
Seorang ibu mengaku tidak bersalah di Mahkamah Sesyen di sini hari ini atas pertuduhan menganiaya anak lelakinya berusia sembilan tahun.
Beli kondo mewah: Isa Samad, Mohd Emir diperintah bayar RM3.31 juta kepada FGV
Mahkamah Tinggi memerintahkan bekas Mohd Isa dan bekas Mohd Emir membayar lebih RM3.31 juta kepada syarikat itu berhubung pembelian dua unit kondominium mewah di ibu negara.
AWANI Ringkas: Kandungan mudarat di media sosial meningkat
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Xiaomi lancar kereta elektrik Xiaomi SU7, harga bermula RM141,500
Xiaomi semalam secara rasminya telah melancarkan kereta elektrik mereka yang pertama dinamakan Xiaomi SU7 untuk pasaran China.
X akan tawar ciri premium percuma jika ada lebih 2,500 pengikut disahkan
ELON Musk memaklumkan perubahan pada penawaran ciri-ciri X kepada semua akaun.
Microsoft buang WordPad melalui kemas kini Windows 11 24H2
MICROSOFT kini memaklumkan mereka akan membuang perisian terbina WordPad pada semua edisi Windows, melalui kemas kini Windows 11 (24H2) yang akan ditawarkan kelak pada tahun ini.
Semua empangan di Selangor berkapasiti penuh, mampu bertahan empat bulan
Secara keseluruhan, kapasiti air mentah mampu bertahan selama tempoh empat bulan tanpa hujan.
Masalah air perlukan penyelesaian yang lebih saksama
Jelas beliau, jika masalah air ini gagal diatasi ia juga akan menyumbangkan kepada penutupan kilang-kilang dan pelabur berpindah ke negara lain.
Dasar Air Negara diperkemas, KASA lantik UKM jalankan kajian
Pakar runding dari Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) dilantik Kementerian Alam Sekitar dan Air bagi menjalankan kajian Dasar Negara dalam mengukuhkan dasar air yang lebih menyeluruh dan holistik.
Ketika banjir melanda, LRA Cheras Batu 11, Langat 2 dihenti tugas, jejas 472 kawasan - Air Selangor
Berikutan peningkatan paras air sungai yang mengakibatkan banjir, dua LRA iaitu LRA Cheras Batu 11 dan LRA Langat 2 dihenti tugas manakala LRA Sungai Langat beroperasi pada pengeluaran separa.
Bekalan air terjejas kerana elektrik terputus - AKSB
Bekalan air terawat yang terjejas di beberapa jajahan di Kelantan berpunca dari bekalan elektrik yang terputus hingga menyebabkan pam air mentah terhenti pada Jumaat lepas.
Euro 2020: Ronaldo tolak tepi minuman tajaan kejohanan
Cristiano Ronaldo mengetepikan botol tersebut dan menyebut 'agua', sekali gus memberikan mesej kepada semua supaya tidak mengambil minuman yang mengandungi gula yang tinggi itu.
Lubang benam gergasi 'muncul' di Mexico
Lubang itu pada mulanya hanya berukuran lima meter namun saiznya menjadi berkali ganda hanya dalam beberapa jam.
Indeks Harga Pengguna naik 1.7 peratus pada Mac 2021
Peningkatan dalam keseluruhan IHP tersebut didorong oleh kenaikan indeks pengangkutan, makanan, pelbagai barangan dan perkhidmatan.
Ramadan 2021: Masalah mulut berbau.. Apa puncanya?
Ramai salah anggap, samakan plak dengan makanan yang tertinggal dalam mulut, sedangakan ia adalah benda yang bebeza.
Kerja penyenggaraan berjadual pastikan bekalan air berterusan - Air Selangor
Kerja-kerja penyenggaraan secara berjadual untuk beberapa aset utama Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor), akan dilaksanakan pada tahun ini bagi memastikan pengguna mendapat perkhidmatan bek