Air travellers worldwide faced tightened security yesterday as authorities ramped up efforts to prevent attacks in the wake of a failed bid to blow up an airliner over the US.
Amsterdam-Schiphol airport was also investigating how a 23-year-old Nigerian with reported links to al-Qaeda could smuggle on board explosives that he allegedly tried to detonate as the flight approached its descent to Detroit.
The US quickly asked airlines worldwide to tighten security and airport authorities said they were complying with extra screening and strict baggage limits that heaped hours on to check-in times.
Nigerian Information Minister Dora Akunyili defended her country's airport security after it emerged the alleged attacker, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, began his journey in Lagos.
"I want to assure everybody that our airports are very safe, having just passed ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) security audit and the American Transportation Security Administration audit in November 2009," she said.
"However, in the light of the new developments, we have reinforced our security systems in all our airports," she added.
Earlier a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said security screening would now be enforced for all passengers.
Media reports in Nigeria said up to now, so-called "big men" - important and influential people - and their families have often bypassed security checks at the country's airports.
Extra measures, including frisking of passengers and searching hand baggage went into force in the Netherlands after it received a formal request from the US authorities soon after Friday's botched attack.
Within the US, the Department of Homeland Security tightened security checks on all domestic and international flights.
In London, British Airways said US-bound passengers would undergo additional screening and would only be allowed one item of hand luggage.
BA also said people taking Christmas or other gifts in their hand luggage would be asked to unwrap them before boarding.
Virgin Altantic stressed the need for plane tickets to correspond exactly with passports - noting that this also applies to marriage or maiden names.
In Berlin, police said they were stepping up security at airports, particularly Frankfurt, Europe's third-biggest hub.