Canadian airports to enforce strict security measures for flights to USA
All airline passengers travelling by WestJet and Air Canada from Canada to United State are expected to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their scheduled departure when flying to the U.S. to allow for additional screening time.
Heightened security measures have been introduced by DHS that require enhanced screening of personal electronic devices such as tablets and laptops. All personal electronic devices larger than a smartphone will need to be easily accessible and have all cases, cover and/or packaging removed, said the Air Canada website.
"The United States and the global aviation community face an adaptive and agile enemy," said DHS in a statement on its website announcing the changes.
"Terrorist groups continue to target passenger aircraft, and we have seen a 'spider web' of threats to commercial aviation as terrorists pursue new attack methods," it said.
Based on these concerns, DHS – in coordination approximately with 280 international partners that offer flights to the United States -- is elevating global aviation security to keep the traveling public safe.
In light of recent evaluations, Secretary of DHS, John Kelly deemed it necessary, as he reported on DHS website, to implement enhanced security measures for all commercial flights to the United States.
These measures, both seen and unseen, include enhanced screening of passengers and electronic devices as well as heightened security standards for aircraft and airports and would be applicable to approximately 280 airports.
DHS said it is committed to enabling better utilization of departmental data to improve the quality of services to the American people, while developing products that promote innovation while maintaining enhanced security.
Over next several weeks and months, DHS will work with aviation stakeholders to ensure full implementation of these enhanced security measures and those stakeholders who fail to adopt these requirements, said DHS website, would face the risk of additional security restrictions being imposed.
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
