JAL, ANA tighten security at request of U.S. authorities+

TOKYO, Dec. 26 Kyodo -
Japan Airlines Corp. and All Nippon Airways Co. began Saturday to step up
security measures on passengers traveling to the United States at the request
of U.S. transport authorities after an attempted terrorist attack on a
U.S.-bound international flight on Friday, airline company officials said.
The Transport Security Administration asked JAL and ANA to conduct inspections
of all passengers before boarding, including body checks, the officials said.
Japan's transport ministry also instructed domestic air carriers to carry out
full security inspections of passengers on both domestic and international
flights.
At Japanese airports, travelers must pass through a metal detector but are not
necessarily body searched.
Airline companies will increase the number of security guards at airports and
check all hand luggage, the officials said, adding passengers will be required
to be seated one hour before landing in the United States.
ANA said it will also inspect checked baggage to detect any explosives.
The ministry also called on travelers taking U.S.-bound flights to prepare for
boarding earlier than usual as tighter security checks could increase
congestion, with many people going overseas for the year-end and New Year
holidays.
According to media reports, a 23-year-old Nigerian passenger set off a small
explosive aboard a Delta-Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on
Friday in what the U.S. government considers an attempted terrorist attack,
according to media reports.
The Northwest Airlines plane, an Airbus 330, which was carrying 278 passengers,
landed safely. Delta Air Lines has taken over Northwest.
==Kyodo