Australia: Outbound airport passenger checks increased up to combat ISIS fighter risk

Airport security checks giving check-in staff a "board" or "no board" message for each passenger have been introduced for all travellers leaving Australia for international destinations in a bid to stop the flow of foreign fighters to Islamic State. The outbound passenger checks, which supplement long-running inbound checks, were mandated as part of a bill aimed at countering foreign fighters in 2014, but took time to roll out to all airlines. Taking just seconds the new technology gives a "board" or "no board" message to the check-in agent or automated kiosk. Carriers will receive a financial penalty each time they fail to provide advance passenger processing information for an outbound traveller, just as they do for inbound travellers. There are now 2m checks a month processed through the newly installed outbound database.<br/>