TOKYO: The Japanese government plans to introduce a new system to allow airlines to deny boarding of terrorists at foreign airports, according to officials.

The system will check whether suspicious figures are on the blacklist of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan when they take boarding procedures at overseas airports, the officials said.

The government aims to start using the system in fiscal 2024.

In order to prevent terrorists and deported foreigners from entering Japan, government officials receive passenger information from airlines within 30 minutes after the departure of an international flight and check it against the blacklist.

Even foreigners who are highly likely to be banned entry to Japan can take a flight to the country, forcing officials in Japan to conduct such checks upon arrival at domestic airports.

Under the new system, passenger information will be sent to the agency at the time of check-in at foreign airports. If blacklisted people are detected, the agency will ask airlines to deny them boarding, reducing burdens on immigration officials in Japan.

JIJI Press