Devices ban lifted for more flights
Print Edition
THE United States has lifted the in-cabin ban on laptops and other large electronic devices on US-bound flights from Dubai and Istanbul, Emirates and Turkish Airlines said yesterday.
The announcements come three days after the ban was lifted on Etihad Airways’ flights to the United States from Abu Dhabi International Airport.
The ban on US flights from Dubai International, the world’s busiest airport for international travel, has been lifted after new security measures announced by the US last week were implemented, an Emirates spokeswoman said in a statement.
Emirates, the Middle East’s largest airline and which flies to 12 US cities, had blamed travel restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration for a drop in demand on US flights.
The Dubai-based carrier cut flights to five US cities from May but had since said demand was starting to return on some routes.
Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines said in a statement that passengers traveling to the US could now take their laptops onboard.
Emirates and Turkish Airlines are the only airlines that operate direct flights from Dubai and Istanbul, respectively, to the US.
US transport officials were to visit Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines yesterday to check that the carriers have implemented the latest US security measures, a spokesman for the US Transportation Security Administration said.
The airlines have started the process to lift the in-cabin ban on laptops and other large electronic devices on US-bound flights by informing the TSA they were ready to comply with the measures, a TSA spokesman said.
Qatar Airways has not commented on the ban since the restrictions were lifted on Etihad Airways on Sunday.
Turkish Airlines Chief Executive Bilal Eksi also tweeted that the airline expected similar restrictions on flights to Britain would soon be lifted.
“A technical team will come from Britain for an assessment within one week,” Turkey’s Transport Minister Ahmet Arslan told reporters in Ankara. “I’m sure they will lift that ban. There is no reason for the ban to continue.”
The UK ban does not apply to flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Security officials were seen examining passengers’ laptops at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport yesterday following the lifting of restrictions.
“When I was buying the ticket I thought ‘shall I buy one for the day after just in case,’ but I bought one for today when they said it was being lifted,” said Emre Tokmak, a passenger on a Turkish Airlines flight to New York travelling with his laptop.
In March, the US imposed the ban on direct flights originating at 10 airports in eight countries — Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey — to address fears that bombs could be concealed in electronic devices taken aboard aircraft.
Some airlines affected by the ban tried to soften the impact by allowing passengers to check in devices shortly before boarding and offering to loan tablets to those in first or business class.
Aviation industry consultant John Strickland said: “Perception is important for lucrative business travelers and this restores a sense of ease and convenience in using these carriers.”
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