EXPERT: U.S. DEMAND TO REINFORCE SECURITY MEASURES ON RUSSIAN PLANES IS JUSTIFIED

MOSCOW, September 21 (RIA Novosti's Alexander Kovalev) - Head of the civil aircraft flight fitness control department of the Russian federal service for transport control Andrei Yelistratov believes that the demand of the U.S. Aviation Security Department to reinforce security measures on Russian planes is justified.

"These security measures should be taken on all flights, including domestic ones," Mr. Yelistratov told RIA Novosti.

The U.S. side ordered Aeroflot and Delta Airlines performing Russia-U.S. flights to boost security measures.

"In compliance with these instructions, the 100% checking of the luggage and carry-on baggage is carried out involving cynologists with dogs and special devices to check the presence of explosives," deputy head of the Azat Zaripov of Aeroflot aviation security service told RIA Novosti earlier.

"The current security measures are undoubtedly sound," Mr. Yelistratov said.

However, they should be made less uncomfortable for passengers, he noted.

Meanwhile, if passengers have to wait for two hours for thorough checking this is justified," Andrei Yelistratov stressed.