Australia announce increased security checks for flights from Doha

Following the footsteps of USA and UK, Australia announced it will increase security checks for flights from some Middle East airports, including Doha, Abdu Dhabi and Dubai.

However, Australia will not be implementing a laptop ban aboard flights from these airports, as had been done by the USA and UK.

The airlines affected by the new measures are Qantas Airways, Etihad Airways, Emirates, and Qatar Airways. The additional security checks will hit passengers flying direct to Australia from Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, reported The Peninsula.

“Explosive detection screening will be conducted for randomly selected passengers and their baggage. Checks may also include targeted screening of electronic devices,” Transport Minister Darren Chester said in a statement.

“Our changes are in line with the UK, which recently announced that people travelling from Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai will be subject to random explosive trace detection screening. There’s no ban on the carriage of electronic devices on flights to Australia at this stage,” he added.

However, Chester said there was ‘no specific threat to Australia.’

“In response to national security advice the federal government has made precautionary changes and instructed airlines to implement new protocols from next week,” he said.

All of the affected airlines already have gate screening measures for passengers boarding Australia-bound flights to enforce the country’s strict liquids, aerosols and gels restrictions, reported Australia-based website News.com.au.

Passengers travelling to Australia from Doha, have you been notified of any change in check-in procedures?