Israel gets even tougher on air security

Israel is to ban foreign airliners without bulletproof cockpit doors from flying over the country or landing at its airports from October. 31, a spokesman for the country's Ministry of Transportation said.

The Israeli move follows a similar decision made by US civil aviation officials after the September. 11, 2001 airborne terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

The US decision also takes effect on October 31, the government said.

Transport Ministry spokesman Avner Ovadiah said the ban would also apply to foreign airliners using Israeli airspace en route to other destinations.

Ben-Gurion International Airport, Israel’s main aviation gateway, is served by more than two dozen foreign airlines.

Ovadiah said that some airlines with older fleets, particularly those from Eastern Europe, had yet to install the safety doors.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation, the United Nations’ aviation arm, is requiring every airliner in the world to install reinforced cockpit doors by November 1.

Israel’s national airline, El Al, has among world’s the most stringent security requirements.