Passengers will be subjected to full body pat-downs and hand luggage searches when travelling to the US.

The new security measures come after a Nigerian national boarded a Northwest aircraft from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day and attempted to set off a bomb.

An L.F. Wade International Airport spokesman said: "The airport always screened 100 percent going to the US and if something looks unusual on the x-ray, they pull that person aside.

"The only change is when you get to the boarding gate. There's a 100 percent search there with a full body pat-down."

The spokesman also said passengers should still arrive at the airport two hours ahead of their scheduled flight. "There's a potential that there could be some changes coming up but at this moment, that's all," she added.

The measures only apply to passengers travelling to the US.

A statement from the US Consulate said: "In the wake of the December 25, 2009, incident involving a Nigerian citizen aboard a Northwest Airlines aircraft flying from Amsterdam to Detroit, all persons flying internationally to the United States will be subject to enhanced, threat-based and random screening. This includes travellers from Bermuda.

"The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has initiated these measures to ensure the security of the travelling public.

"The TSA, formed immediately following the tragedies of September 11, is a component of the Department of Homeland Security and is responsible for the security of America's transportation systems."

The statement continued: "The TSA issued a Security Directive on January 3 requiring all international air carriers with inbound flights to the US to implement enhanced security measures above and beyond basic screening such as walk-through metal detectors.

"Prior to December 25, most foreign and US carriers and countries had to meet baseline international security requirements for flights to the US.

"The new Security Directive includes enhanced, sustainable measures that are a significant increase in America's security posture. "The directive requires every individual flying into the US from anywhere in the world with passports or itineraries from nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or 'countries of interest' to go through enhanced screening.

"This is a significant step forward as it applies to all countries with flights to the US and looks beyond passports to the passenger's itinerary as well."