The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has boosted security following the attempted bombing aboard Northwest Flight 253 on Christmas Day. Airlines flying to the US, including Australia's national carrier Qantas, will be forced to comply with these additional measures.
On international flights arriving in the United States, passengers will be asked to follow new measures while aboard the flight, such as stowing all personal belongings and remaining in their seat for portions of the flight.
Initially, the TSA said all passengers arriving to the US would be forced to remain in their seats for the last hour before arrival, but this measure has since been scaled back.
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Passengers arriving in the US will also be exposed to more bag searches and pat-downs before boarding the flight. The TSA requires each passenger to be patted-down before boarding their flight, and will also scan all onboard or hand luggage for explosives, as well as doing physical checks on the plane.
Passengers leaving the US will not be subject to any new measures at this stage.
Airlines have indicated they will implement further restrictions, separate from those imposed by the TSA. Some airlines, including British Airways, Air Canada and Virgin Atlantic have limited the amount of hand luggage taken on board to one piece per traveller, but Qantas says it has not imposed such restrictions.
No further restriction from Qantas
Other airlines say they will be carefully checking wrapped presents taken in hand luggage, and may unwrap these parcels before they are allowed on board. Cathay Airlines has also banned the use of cabin phones for US-bound travellers. Qantas will not impose either of these restrictions on its US-bound flights.
Domestic flights (within the United States) will be subject to further screening, including the use of sniffer dogs looking specifically for explosives, and additional law enforcement officers. Those screening passengers will also engage in more 'behaviour detection'.
The increased security measures will likely mean longer waits at airports for departing travellers.
Qantas says the new rules will only apply to passengers flying to the US, and existing security measures will apply to all other travellers.
