More bomb threat screening for US-bound passengers from Auckland

All passengers bound for the United States face extra screening. Photo / 123RF

Millions of passengers heading to the United States every week, including those from Auckland Airport, face extra screening but they have been spared a threatened wider ban on laptops in planes.

The United States has announced new security and screening measures for all commercial flights to the United States, but backed away from a proposal to expand a ban on laptops and other electronic devices bigger than cellphones.

"These measures will be both seen and unseen, and they will be phased in over time," said US Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly.

Besides more screening of electronic devices, there would be more thorough passenger vetting, with the new measures designed to reduce the potential threat of insider attacks.

"We will also lay out a clear path to encourage airlines and airports to adopt more sophisticated screening approaches, including better use of explosive detection canines and advanced checkpoint screening technology," he said.

The new screening would affect 105 countries, 280 airports, 180 airlines, 2100 flights and 325,000 passengers a day.

Air New Zealand flies directly from Auckland to four US cities - Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco - and the airline said today's announcement was a good outcome for travellers, striking a sensible balance between necessary security procedures but stopping short of the suggested ban on the carriage of large personal electronic devices inside the cabin.

"As with all airlines operating to the United States, Air New Zealand is required to meet all security requirements stipulated by the US Transport Security Administration (TSA)," said the airline's chief operations integrity and standards officer, Captain David Morgan.

"We are confident the airline is very well positioned to meet these requirements and will work collaboratively with US authorities to ensure this is achieved."

The airline this afternoon did not have any advice on whether passengers would need to turn up earlier.

However, the Civil Aviation Authority said it would work with all stakeholders to ensure that the new requirements were understood and implemented with minimal disruption.

"We are working with the United States authorities to establish how they will be applied in New Zealand," said the authority's deputy chief executive, John Kay.

American Airlines also flies directly between Auckland and Los Angeles and said it was testing new technology that could improve screening in the long run. It shared the view of other US carriers which have called on the authorities to pursue a risk-based, intelligence-driven plan to implement enhanced security measures where the risk analysis determines they are most appropriate.

Homeland Security said the US would encourage more airports to become pre-clearance locations which enhanced security but also increased convenience by allowing international travellers to go through customs and border security screening before boarding their flights to the United States.

Since March, passengers on flights to the US from 10 Middle Eastern and North African countries, have been prohibited from bringing electronic devices larger than a cellphone on board with them. But those restrictions could be lifted if the affected airlines and airports adopt the new security protocols, the Washington Post reported.

Officials said that not all measures will be visible to the public, though people may notice more bomb sniffing dogs, more thorough screening of their carry-on bags and swabbing of devices for traces of explosives.

Kelly said there was an opportunity to raise the baseline on aviation security globally, in a manner that will not unduly inconvenience the flying public.

"Our enemies are adaptive, and we must be too. A number of the measures we plan to put in place can be dialled up or down in a risk-based, intelligence-driven manner. And over the next several weeks and months, we'll work with our partners to ensure these measures are fully implemented."