UK Home Office is bringing in new laws this week in an attempt to prevent airlines from carrying potential passengers who could join Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq.

As per the proposed laws, Home Secretary Theresa May will be able to stop airlines from carrying passengers, including children, if they are suspected of travelling to take part in activities related to terrorism in places like Syria.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The move comes weeks after three London schoolgirls fled to join the Islamic State through Turkey. It has been estimated that close to 600 Britons have gone to Syria or Iraq with the intention of joining militant groups.

"It will also enhance our ability to monitor and control the actions of those who pose a threat."

UK immigration and security minister James Brokenshire said in a statement: "This important legislation will disrupt the ability of people to travel abroad to fight and then return.

"It will also enhance our ability to monitor and control the actions of those who pose a threat."

As per the new rules, airlines would need to ask for permission to carry passengers who could be a threat. They need to provide an automatic system based on passenger lists that would flag high-risk travellers and stop them from boarding aircrafts.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Recently, the Guardian reported that the three schoolgirls were among 60 British women, including 18 teenagers who are believed to have travelled to Syria to join Isis militants.

After being criticised for failing to prevent the teenagers from boarding the flight, Turkish Airlines had previously said it was helping government investigation into the case but added that it was only responsible for checking visas.

Prime Minister David Cameron has also urged internet firms to take up more stringent steps to stop online extremism after it was revealed that the three London girls had used Twitter to get in touch with extremists.

Airport Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Airport Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Klayo’s talent and compliance platform tailored for airports has secured the Innovation Award in the Workforce Digitalization category . Learn how its competency gap analysis, integrated compliance hub and data-driven workforce planning are helping airports streamline operations, strengthen governance and engage employees.

Discover the Impact