Foreign airlines react strongly to new us airfreight security regulations

Foreign airlines have strongly reacted to a sudden change in US Customs regulations affecting airfreight, with at least one carrier reportedly suspending cargo services while seeking clarification on the new requirements.

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented an emergency amendment, effective August 21, mandating that carriers provide additional details about shippers and consignees to the US Customs and Border Protection agency. Korean Air Lines is said to have suspended its cargo services to the US while it seeks further clarification on the new rules, though this information has yet to be confirmed by The Loadstar. Another source has indicated that KAL has “temporarily halted imports to the US,” calling the situation concerning as carriers scramble to understand and comply with the new requirements. “Carriers are working to process the mandate and communicate its implications to the supply chain sector,” said a source. While it is hoped that interpretation and implementation will be swift, service disruptions are unacceptable.

The emergency change may be related to the US Air Cargo Advanced Screening System (ACAS), launched in 2018, which gives customs officials additional time to assess the safety of goods and allows them to order the unloading of suspected cargo. This move followed intelligence on potential threats from terrorist organizations seeking to exploit gaps in international air cargo security, according to the Department of Homeland Security.