Airlines to give out questionnaires or interview passengers in advance, with some warning of longer check-in times

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

British passengers flying to the US could be subject to enhanced security measures brought in by the Trump administration from Thursday.

The US government said that travellers on all flights into the US may be questioned about the purpose of their journey by airline staff and private security experts before departure. Others may be asked to fill out a form to provide further personal details.

Airline customers may also be asked to switch off their mobile phones and laptops to prove that they are not being used for nefarious means.

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All Air France passengers will be required to fill questionnaires and those flying on Emirates will begin pre-screening interviews at the check-in desks. Other airlines will adapt to the changes in similar ways.

The policy is part of a package of wide-ranging changes for passengers on commercial flights, put forward by the White House as central to national security.

The Trump administration had previously banned laptops and other large electronic devices from eight mainly Muslim-majority countries in March due to security fears.

A similar policy was introduced by the UK, although it affected passengers arriving from some different locations. However, the policy has since been dropped with the new measures in effect taking their place.

More than 4 million Britons travel to the US each year.

The new measures will be both “seen and unseen”, the US Department of Homeland Security said in July when the first policies were wound down.

The changes should come as no surprise to airlines since they were given a 120-day deadline to meet the new regulations.

However, some disagreed with the Department for Transport’s claim that the changes would not cause delays.

The budget airline Norwegian, which operates transatlantic flights from Belfast, Edinburgh and Gatwick, advised customers to arrive at airports earlier than normal.

An airline spokesman said: “We always follow the rules and regulations set out by the US authorities. These new measures mean that our passengers travelling to the US need to plan for more time at the airport to answer a series of questions during check-in. Further details will be shared with our passengers prior to departure.”

Virgin Atlantic said in a statement: “We work closely with US authorities to ensure the safety and security of our flights, and are aware of the additional measures – however, we do not anticipate any disruption to customers.

“We advise all customers travelling on our flights to arrive at the airport at least two hours before departure.”

US officials said that the measures would allow airlines to better detect hidden explosives.

Lisa Farbstein, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), said: “As we move forward, TSA will continue to work closely with our aviation partners and verify that all security enhancements are accurately implemented.

“As threats continue to evolve, we and our partners around the world will continue to work together to improve intelligence sharing and standardise best practices, while also pursuing technological advancements that will make flying more secure for everyone.”