A new travel ban means laptops, tablets and other large electronics have to stay in checked luggage on non-stop flights to the U.S. from certain airports in the Middle East and Africa. One U.S. administration official says this covers devices larger than a cellphone.
Unnamed officials told CNNthat the move was to address a security concern involving passengers boarding non-stop flights to the United States from airports in specific countries. The officials did not specify the countries but did say the ban would be in effect for a limited period of time.
U.S. airlines will not be affected since none fly non-stop to any of the countries singled out in the directive, according to the CNN report. For more information see article linked below.
No imminent threat was reported. But the targeted airlines will have 96 hours to ensure that passengers stow all of their tablets, e-readers, DVD players, cameras, game units, travel printers and scanners — any electronics larger than a cellphone — in checked luggage rather than in carry-on.The officials wouldn’t disclose why it was safer to have the electronics in cargo than in the cabin.If an airline ignores the restrictions, security officials will ask the Federal Aviation Administration to revoke the airline’s certificate to fly to the U.S.Homeland Security and State Department officials began notifying officials in the affected countries about the looming restrictions on Sunday.The nine airlines affected are: Royal Jordanian, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Moroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways.
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