Foreign Airlines Express Concerns Over New US Air Cargo Security Regulations

Foreign airlines are reportedly expressing significant concerns regarding a recent emergency amendment to US Customs regulations affecting airfreight security. At least one airline has temporarily suspended its cargo services while seeking further clarification on the newly imposed requirements.

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has introduced an emergency amendment that mandates carriers to provide additional information about shippers and consignees to the US Customs and Border Protection agency. This new regulation came into effect on August 21, and sources have described its abrupt implementation as chaotic.

According to insider reports, Korean Air Lines has reportedly halted its cargo services destined for the US as it navigates the complexities of the new regulations. However, verification of this information by The Loadstar remains pending.

Another source echoed similar sentiments, indicating that Korean Air Lines had temporarily ceased imports to the US, labeling the situation as concerning. Airlines are now under pressure to quickly adapt to the new requirements while ensuring compliance with the regulations.

"Carriers are currently processing the mandate and relaying its requirements to the supply chain sector," the source stated. "We hope that the interpretation and implementation of these rules will be swift, but any reduction in services is unacceptable," they added.

While sources refrained from speculating on the reasons behind this emergency change, some suggested it may be linked to the US Air Cargo Advanced Screening System (ACAS). Launched in 2018, ACAS was designed to provide customs officials with additional time to assess whether goods destined for the US could pose a threat, granting them the authority to instruct crews to offload cargo deemed suspicious.

The introduction of ACAS followed specific classified intelligence indicating that terrorist organizations were attempting to exploit weaknesses in international air cargo security, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security.