New security rules for US-bound air passengers kick-off Thursday

United States airlines are ready with new security measures that include stricter passenger screenings on all US-bound flights as they meet the 120-day deadline of the Trump administration designed to avoid an in-cabin ban on laptops.

The measures include short security interviews with passengers which would be in place by Thursday, Reuters quoted Airlines as saying.

The US announced the new rules in June to end its restrictions on carry-on electronic devices on planes from 10 airports in eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

The restrictions were imposed in response to unspecified security threats and were lifted in July.

The Trump administration, however, said it could reimpose measures on a case by case basis if airlines and airports did not boost security.

European and US officials told Reuters at the time that airlines had 120 days to comply with the measures, including increased passenger screening.

The 120-day deadline is Thursday. Airlines had until late July to expand explosive trace detection testing.

The new security measures will affect 325,000 airline passengers on about 2,000 commercial flights arriving daily in the United States, on 180 airlines from 280 airports in 105
countries, Reuters reported.

Lufthansa Group said on Tuesday the measures would be in place by Thursday and travelers could face short interviews at check-in or at the gate. Economy passengers on
Lufthansa's Swiss airline have been asked to check in at least 90 minutes before departure.

Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said it would suspend in-town check-in and self bag-drop services for passengers booked on direct flights to the United States. The airline said passengers would also have short security interviews and it has advised travelers to arrive three hours before departure.

Airlines for America, a US trade group, said the changes "are complex security measures" but praised US officials for giving airlines flexibility in meeting the new rules.

Association of Asia Pacific Airlines Director General Andrew Herdman said having a globally coordinated security approach made more sense than having destination-specific
requirements.

"This is not a positive," he said of the US measures at an industry conference in Taipei. "It adds complexity."

US authorities in June also increased security around aircraft and in passenger areas, and other places where travelers can be cleared by US officials before they depart.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said in July it was imposing new security rules requiring US domestic airline travelers to remove all electronic items larger than mobile phones such as tablets, e-readers and video game consoles from carry-on baggage for screening.