Airlines group warns of risks from electronic devices ban
Print Edition
A GLOBAL airlines group yesterday urged governments to look for alternatives to extending a cabin ban on large electronic devices, saying such a move could cost passengers about US$1.1 billion a year and create new safety risks.
US and EU officials were due to meet later in the day to discuss aviation security, with the US Department of Homeland Security having said an extension of the ban, which currently affects flights from the Middle East and north Africa, was likely.
Airlines, airports and pilots groups have raised concerns over the possible disruption and fire risks of placing large numbers of devices with lithium-ion batteries in the hold. EU officials have also asked the United States to share its intelligence, saying they don’t see there is any evidence for restrictions.
The International Air Transport Association, which represents 265 airlines, said that while current restrictions on laptops in cabins on flights from the Middle East and north Africa affect 350 flights a week, some 390 flights a day would be impacted if it was extended to European airports.
In a letter to US Homeland Security chief John Kelly and EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc, IATA head Alexandre de Juniac called on governments to consider alternatives to a ban, such as methods to detect traces of explosives at airport security checkpoints, better training of staff and use of behavioral detection officers.
“These alternative measures would also avoid the concentration of lithium battery-powered devices in the cargo hold of passenger aircraft which is deemed to create an additional safety threat,” De Juniac wrote.
Using its own data and that of the US Federal Aviation Administration, IATA estimated extending the ban would cost passengers US$655 million a year in loss of productive time, US$216 million in longer travel and US$195 million in reduced wellbeing.
Airports association ACI Europe said 60-90 percent of passengers using European airports were estimated to carry larger electronic devices and any extension of restrictions would require a big increase in security staff at airports.
Extra staff would take time because they would need to be trained and get clearance.
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