Wellington, Dec 27 NZPA - Passengers departing Auckland International Airport for the United States face additional security measures in the wake of an attempt to blow up a passenger jet bound for Detroit.

The new measures are part of an international effort to tighten security on all flights into the United States and are being carried out at the request of US President Barak Obama.

Peter Pilley, of Aviation Security Services, told 3 News tonight that in the gate lounge there would be additional searches of baggage and persons before passengers could board their flight. He warned that everyone leaving new Zealand for the United States could expect delays.

"Allow at least another hour in your departure time at this current time just for the USA," Mr Pilley said.

To speed up the screening process people should not carry anything that they did not need. "The least amount of carry-on baggage you have, the quicker you'll go through those measures," he said.

Reuters reported that Air Canada had advised US-bound travelers to arrive early at airports to allow extra time for security screenings, including additional personal searches.

"Passengers should also expect flight delays, cancellations and missed connections, and limit themselves to a single piece of carry-on baggage," Canada's largest airline said on its website.

"New rules imposed by the US Transportation Security Administration also limit on-board activities by customers and crew in US airspace that may adversely impact on-board service," Air Canada said.

"Among other things, during the final hour of flight customers must remain seated, will not be allowed to access carry-on baggage, or have personal belongings or other items on their laps."

US authorities on Saturday charged a Nigerian man with trying to blow up a Delta Airlines passenger plane with high explosives and were investigating his claim that he had links to al Qaeda.

The suspect, who was being treated for burns at a Michigan hospital, was overpowered by passengers and crew on the Delta Air Lines plane from Amsterdam on Christmas Day.