Security has been increased on South African Airways (SAA) flights to the United States, the South African Press Association cited the airline as saying on Sunday.
"SAA has implemented additional security measures on its U.S. flights to Washington and
New York in order to comply with a directive from the U.S. Transport Security Administration (TFA), " said SAA spokeswoman Azure Janneker. "This
security, such as increased pre-screening of passengers, will apply to prior departure as well
as on board the aircraft."
She said passengers should factor in additional time into the travel arrangements due to these additional procedures.
On Friday, a Nigerian man, allegedly linked to al Qaida, tried to blow up an airplane
travelling towards Detroit.
The man smuggled explosives aboard and tried to detonate them before being overpowered by passengers and crew on the Northwest airline flight which departed from Amsterdam's Schipol airport.
The United States has since asked airlines and airports across the globe to tighten security
for flights travelling into the country.