US: Airlines again on front lines of the Trump administration's latest travel curbs

Commercial airlines are again on the front lines of the US government's latest round of travel restrictions, which have had several iterations since the Trump White House's first, issued in January. The first set, placed upon citizens of seven majority-Muslim nations, threw airports into chaos. Failing to scrutinise traveller documents is costly: Airlines have to pay to fly the passengers back home and sometimes pay hefty fines for passengers who are denied entry into the US upon landing. Immigration authorities worldwide turn away some 60,000 air travellers a year at destination or transfer points, according to the IATA. Those authorities can fine carriers an average of $3,500 for the error. Gate agents and other airline employees this year have had to become quick studies in the sometimes vague and abruptly changing requirements on which documentation was acceptable for boarding US-bound flights. They also were forced to change their boarding and luggage-loading procedures after the Trump administration in March issued a ban on personal electronics larger than a cell phone in the cabin. The White House's latest rules added a ban on most US travel from Chad and North Korea, to a list that included Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, and Iran. Sudan was removed from the list of countries that were in an earlier ban. The administration also will bar the entry of some government officials and their families from Venezuela. The new restrictions will take effect Oct. 18, the White House said.<br/>