Increased security - update

On 4 December 2008 Indian authorities increased security measures at Indian airports -- focusing especially on New Delhi’s India Gandhi International Airport (VIDP/DEL), Chennai International Airport (VOMM/MAA) and Bengaluru International Airport (VOBL/BLR) -- following an e-mail warning of an attack on 6 December, the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya in 1992. Authorities have not released further details of the threat, though the Bureau of Civil Aviation has reportedly warned that militants may attempt to hijack aircraft at smaller Indian airports -- including Lucknow’s Amausi International Airport (VILK/LKO), Jaipur Airport (VIJP/JAI), Chandigarh Airport (VICG/IXC) and Guwahati International Airport (VEGT/GAU) -- as part of a 9/11 style aerial attack. Earlier, the Bureau of Civil Aviation had placed all of the country's airports under a Red Alert. Authorities have established police cordons around the perimeters of the airports. All vehicles must pass through a security checkpoint before approaching the terminal building. Passengers should expect to go through metal detectors at least three times at various points before boarding their flights; some reports indicate that security guards have screened passengers’ luggage upward of six times. All passengers -- including first- and business-class travellers -- should arrive at least three hours before their scheduled departure.