The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 06:35 PM

International Flights To Start Interviewing Passengers On U.S. Bound Flights

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Air France and other International airline companies say they will begin new security interviews of passengers on U.S.-bound flights.

Air France says it will start the new procedures on Thursday at Paris Orly Airport and a week later, on Nov. 2, at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Air France said on Wednesday that the extra screening will take the form of a questionnaire handed over to "100 percent" of passengers.

Egypt's national airline says it is tightening security on its flights to New York following a request by U.S. security authorities.

In a Wednesday statement, EgyptAir says the new measures will begin Thursday and include more detailed searches of passengers and their luggage, and include interviews. The strict procedures will extend to unauthorized agricultural or veterinary products.

The statement did not say if the change was linked to any new specific concerns or threats.

Earlier this year, Cairo was among a list of cities from which U.S. and British authorities banned electronic devices larger than smartphones in carry-on luggage, before the ban was lifted.