The government said Thursday that Korean travelers flying to US destinations aboard budget carriers must arrive at airports three hours before the flight to undergo enhanced security checks and interviews.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said the move comes as the US Transportation Security Administration asked 180 airlines from 105 countries in June to carry out thorough preflight security checks of passengers through interviews and screening.

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have asked the TSA to delay the implementation of strengthened security checks until April 24 and Feb. 20, respectively, citing the time they need to relocate their facilities and equipment to the second passenger terminal at Incheon Airport in January and reorganize service infrastructure.

(Yonhap)
(Yonhap)

Low-cost carriers, however, did not apply for the TSA waiver for the new security checks.

Passengers using local budget carriers, therefore, will be subject to the new security checks and interviews from Thursday at the airlines’ ticket desks.

Those passengers will be asked by LCC security agents about the purpose of their travel, duration of stay, addresses in the US and a few other security-related questions.

Domestic budget carriers currently operate flights to the US islands of Guam, Saipan and Hawaii.

As of July 19, full-service and low-cost carriers have already begun to carry out additional screenings of portable electronic equipment such as notebooks and smartphones before boarding, per the US request.

Jeju Air, one of South Korea’s leading budget carriers, said it has designated three counters at Incheon Airport for passengers traveling to Guam and Saipan so security agents can ask them questions while they process tickets and luggage.

Air Seoul, another budget carrier, also said it has established four counters exclusively for those bound for the US to expedite the boarding process.

A budget airline official said, “Passengers will be able to board the flights in time if they arrive at Incheon Airport about three hours before departure time, as we have prepared a variety of measures to ease screening despite the complicated procedures related to enhanced security.” (Yonhap)