Major delays for US

21 July 2017

Airlines warn of major delays for US-bound pax 
Fri, 21 Jul 2017 

Airlines are advising US-bound passengers to arrive at the airport at least three hours prior to departure to allow time to clear security.

Earlier this week, US Secretary of Homeland Security, John F. Kelly, announced the immediate introduction of additional screening measures for passengers on international flights bound for the US. The measures pertain to any departure point where a passport is required to re-enter the US.
Travellers are advised to prepare for:
• Additional screening of your person and property
• Heightened screening of personal electronic devices
• Increased security protocols around aircraft and in passenger areas
• The deployment of advanced technology and expanded canine screening 
Delta Air Lines is advising passengers to arrive at their international departure airport at least three hours prior to the departure time of their flight. 
Lufthansa has increased the check-in deadlines for all intercontinental flights at Frankfurt, Munich and Dusseldorf airports. The new check-in deadlines for Lufthansa passengers flying first and business class is 40 minutes before departure, and 60 minutes before departure for premium economy and economy-class passengers.
The check-in deadlines for intercontinental flights from Brussels, Cologne-Bonn, Geneva, Vienna and Zurich would not change, nor would the check-in times for continental flights, Lufthansa said. The minimum connecting times at Lufthansa Group hubs will also remain unchanged for the present. 
Meanwhile, the US plans to encourage more airports to become pre-clearance locations, Kelly announced. “This not only enhances security, it also increases convenience by allowing international travellers to go through Customs and Border security screening before boarding flights to the United States.” 

He stressed that this was just the starting point for further security measures expected to be introduced at US airports. “We are taking prudent steps to make aircraft more secure, to reduce insider threats and to identify suspicious passengers,” he said.