Britons travelling to US face more security measures

British passengers travelling to the US could be subject to enhanced security measures brought in by President Donald Trump's administration from Thursday, the media reported.

The American government said that travellers on all flights into the US may be questioned about the purpose of their journey by airline staff and private security experts before departure, reports the Guardian.

Others may be asked to fill out a form to provide further personal details.

Airline customers may also be asked to switch off their mobile phones and laptops to prove that they were not being used for nefarious means.

All Air France passengers will be required to fill questionnaires and those flying on Emirates will begin pre-screening interviews at the check-in desks. Other airlines will adapt to the changes in similar ways.

The Trump administration had previously banned laptops and other large electronic devices from eight mainly Muslim-majority countries in March due to security fears.

A similar policy was introduced by the UK, although it affected passengers arriving from some different locations. However, the policy has since been dropped with the new measures in effect taking their place, the Guardian reported.

More than 4 million Britons travel to the US each year.

The budget airline Norwegian, which operates transatlantic flights from Belfast, Edinburgh and Gatwick, advised customers to arrive at airports earlier than normal.

Virgin Atlantic said in a statement: "We work closely with US authorities to ensure the safety and security of our flights, and are aware of the additional measures - however, we do not anticipate any disruption to customers."

--IANS

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