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US heightens airport security for foreign flights to avoid laptop ban

Thursday, 29 June 2017 5:15 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 29 June 2017 5:19 AM ]

The US is introducing new aviation security measures for all international flights coming into the country instead of imposing a laptop ban, the Department of Homeland Security announced on Wednesday.

The administration of US President Donald Trump is implementing strict aviation security measures for all international flights coming into the country in order to avoid a laptop ban.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Wednesday the airlines could face the possibility of a total electronics ban for planes if they don’t comply with the new rules.

According to senior officials, passengers on America-bound flights can expect to go through a more “extensive screening process” beginning possibly from this summer in some areas. The enhanced procedures would affect 325,000 airline passengers on about 2,000 daily flights in the United States, on 180 airlines from 280 airports in 105 countries.

“It is time that we raise the global baseline of aviation security. We cannot play international whack-a-mole with each new threat,” DHS Secretary John Kelly told reporters.

“Instead, we must put in place new measures across the board to keep the traveling public safe and make it harder for terrorists to succeed,” he added.

Compliance with the rules could lead to removing a ban on laptops and other large electronics from passenger cabins on flights to the United States from 10 airports in eight Middle Eastern and North African countries.

This file photo taken on March 22, 2017 shows a Syrian woman travelling to the United States through Amman, Jordan, opening her laptop before checking in at Beirut international airport. (Photo by AFP)

It could also exempt the airlines from expanding the ban to flights from Europe.

In March, the Trump administration announced restrictions for laptops and electronic devices larger than a cell phone on flights originating from 10 airports in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Jordan, Qatar, Egypt and Kuwait.

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