US steps up inbound aviation security, but no PEDs ban

The Department of Homeland Security has sidelined plans to impose bans on laptop computers and other electronic devices in airline carry-on baggage for flights to the US from Europe.
Homeland Security secretary John Kelly said that instead, the US will require many airlines and overseas airports to improve passenger screening and securing airplanes at the last takeoff point before arriving in the USA.
 
Australia and NZ will be affected by the changes, though specifics are not known as yet.
 
"The US government is focused on deterring, detecting, and disrupting threats," Kelly said.
 
Passengers will be allowed to carry electronic devices larger than a cell phone onto US-bound flight if they board an airline that complies with new US-imposed security directives calling for more extensive passenger screening, increased use of bomb-sniffing dogs, and improved security measures.
 
"We could ban the devices outright," a Homeland Security official said, "but we have chosen measures that address the risk without removing the devices from airplanes."
 
In total, the new rules will be implemented in phases at more than 280 airports in 105 countries, affecting 180 airlines that offer direct flights to the US. An average of about 2,000 such flights carrying a total of roughly 325,000 passengers arrive in the US daily.
 
Domestic flights within the US will not be affected.
 
In March, the US ordered airlines operating from 10 Middle Eastern and African airports to prevent passengers bringing on board personal electronic devices (PEDs) that are larger than a mobile phone on direct flights to the United States. The directive said the devices must be stored in a passenger's checked baggage. Restrictions in those countries will be lifted as soon as the affected airlines comply with the new security directives.
 
Any airlines that fail to comply with the new directives could face fines, have their flights 'restricted' in some way or have to completely ban electronic devices from their flights to the USA in both carry-on and checked baggage.
 
Passenger check-in procedures will vary among airports and airlines, depending on how much they need to do to meet the new requirements. Some are 'substantially' compliant already.

US steps up inbound aviation security, but no PEDs ban

The Department of Homeland Security has sidelined plans to impose bans on laptop computers and other electronic devices in airline carry-on baggage for flights to the US from Europe.
Homeland Security secretary John Kelly said that instead, the US will require many airlines and overseas airports to improve passenger screening and securing airplanes at the last takeoff point before arriving in the USA.
 
Australia and NZ will be affected by the changes, though specifics are not known as yet.
 
"The US government is focused on deterring, detecting, and disrupting threats," Kelly said.
 
Passengers will be allowed to carry electronic devices larger than a cell phone onto US-bound flight if they board an airline that complies with new US-imposed security directives calling for more extensive passenger screening, increased use of bomb-sniffing dogs, and improved security measures.
 
"We could ban the devices outright," a Homeland Security official said, "but we have chosen measures that address the risk without removing the devices from airplanes."
 
In total, the new rules will be implemented in phases at more than 280 airports in 105 countries, affecting 180 airlines that offer direct flights to the US. An average of about 2,000 such flights carrying a total of roughly 325,000 passengers arrive in the US daily.
 
Domestic flights within the US will not be affected.
 
In March, the US ordered airlines operating from 10 Middle Eastern and African airports to prevent passengers bringing on board personal electronic devices (PEDs) that are larger than a mobile phone on direct flights to the United States. The directive said the devices must be stored in a passenger's checked baggage. Restrictions in those countries will be lifted as soon as the affected airlines comply with the new security directives.
 
Any airlines that fail to comply with the new directives could face fines, have their flights 'restricted' in some way or have to completely ban electronic devices from their flights to the USA in both carry-on and checked baggage.
 
Passenger check-in procedures will vary among airports and airlines, depending on how much they need to do to meet the new requirements. Some are 'substantially' compliant already.