Prime minister David Cameron has announced plans that will force airlines to share more passenger data with security agencies in a renewed terrorism crackdown.
Cameron said requirements on airlines should be tightened and more information shared about passengers than at present. Failure to do so could mean planes will not be allowed to land in Britain.
The US-style measures are seen as important by the government after recent criticism of airlines failing to provide information early enough for British intelligence agencies. Currently, airlines do not release their passenger lists until 30 minutes before departure.
Cameron confirmed that if the name of any traveller appears on a 'watchlist', the airline will have to prevent them from boarding.
“Airlines will have to comply with our no-fly-list arrangements, give us information on passenger lists, and comply with our security-screening requirements,” said Cameron, “If they do not do this, their flights will not be able to land in Britain.”
The new measures, which have received cross-party support, also give police powers to confiscate passports of anyone under suspicion at UK borders.
The announcements come after concerns over British citizens who are fighting in Iraq and Syria with the Islamist State extremist group, and plan to return shortly to the UK.
“It is abhorrent that people who declare their allegiance elsewhere are able to return to the United Kingdom and pose a threat to our national security,” Cameron said. “Passports are not an automatic right.”
The UK already has powers to revoke passports but the new proposals would make it easier to do – especially at border control.
"What we need is a targeted power to exclude British nationals from the United Kingdom. We need to address any potential gap in our armoury to keep our country safe.
“It is a duty for all those who live in these islands so we will stand up for our values, we will in the end defeat this extremism and we will secure our way of life for generations to come,” said Cameron.
Last week, Britain’s terror threat level was raised from ‘severe’ to ‘substantial'.