Turkish Airlines steps up security protocols for travelers to South America

Turkish Airlines (THY) has announced that it will enforce additional measures to control passengers traveling to South American destinations amidst concerns over the surge in the number of Turkish citizens attempting to seek asylum in the US through Mexico and Canada.

In a written statement published on March 15, Türkiye’s prominent airline stated that it will implement additional controls to verify whether passengers traveling to Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Cuba and Brazil comply with the supplementary control requirements set by the respective authorities of these countries.

These measures come amidst increasing scrutiny and concern over immigration patterns, particularly in South American destinations.  The surge in the number of Turkish citizens attempting to seek asylum in the United States through Mexico and Canada borders has prompted concerns, with nearly 50,000 individuals making attempts in the past year.

In response to these concerns, Turkish Airlines revealed that apart from passport and visa requirements, additional checks are being applied for passenger acceptance on flights destined for these countries.

Passengers failing to meet the specified additional controls will be denied entry into the respective countries, prompting similar checks during the boarding process.

Furthermore, Turkish Airlines cautioned passengers that they may encounter issues at the acceptance point of the respective flights if any of the entry conditions for these countries are not fulfilled.

The airline has also published an informative guide on entry requirements for each country on its website, including details such as the necessity of a Mexico Electronic Approval document for entry into Mexico.

Passengers traveling to Brazil, Cuba, Panama, and Colombia are also required to meet specific entry requirements, such as possessing a return ticket, hotel reservation, and transit duration limits.

Moreover, certain categories of passengers, including those with long-term stays without baggage and first-time international travelers, may face entry restrictions if they fail to meet the stipulated conditions.