Qantas said today that it would comply with new security measures introduced by the United States Department of Homeland Security for flights into and out of the United States.

The new measures, which apply to all airlines, relate to the carriage of liquids and gels by passengers on aircraft and the screening of passenger footwear.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, liquids and gels include beverages (including duty free purchases), shampoos, suntan lotions, creams, toothpastes, hair gels and other items of a similar consistency.

Excluded from the measures are baby formula or juice if a baby or small child is travelling, prescription medicine with a name that matches the name on the passenger's ticket and insulin and other non-prescription medicines.

All passenger footwear will also have to be screened prior to aircraft boarding.

The new security requirements, which differ from those introduced today in the United Kingdom, do not affect Qantas domestic and other international services.

Qantas has begun contacting customers booked on flights to and from the USA to advise them of the new measures.

As a result of the changes, customers travelling on flights to and from the USA are asked to allow additional time for check-in.

Qantas operates 43 services each week between Australia and the USA.

Updates to this advice will be available on http://www.qantas.com.