Airlines complain of confusion, costs of US immigration order

Airlines reacted angrily Monday to an abrupt change in US immigration policy, saying they were struggling to enforce unclear rules, faced unexpected additional costs and were worried they could be fined if they get it wrong. President Trump announced over the weekend a 4-month hold on allowing refugees into the US and temporarily barred travellers from Syria and 6 other Muslim-majority countries, provoking a worldwide backlash and protests at US airports. IATA said Monday the order was issued without prior coordination or warning, causing confusion among travellers and its own members, who are now at the forefront of implementing the rules. "It also placed additional burdens on airlines to comply with unclear requirements, to bear implementation costs and to face potential penalties for non-compliance," it said. <br/>