DUBAI: The United Kingdom (UK) has followed a US ban on all electronic items larger than a cell phone in cabins of airplanes flying in from six countries of the Middle East – excluding the UAE, reports said.
The US has banned such items from 10 airports in eight Middle Eastern countries.
Though the UK ban excludes the UAE, it adds Tunisia and Turkey. The six countries are Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.
The UK ban also includes British Airways flights from the listed airports. The US exempts its own carriers.
The ban takes effect from Saturday. Only mobile phones and medical devices are exempted. Rest have to be carried in the hold as checked in baggage.
The US ban affected some 50 daily flights, but the UK ban will affect a larger number of flights.
Security officials pointed out that ban has been placed in face of expected terrorist threats targeting airliners.
Earlier, terrorists managed to smuggle a laptop abroad a flight from Somalia, which had an explosive device in it. The device was triggered by a passenger and managed to bow a hole in the airplane, but did not cause any fatalities, injuries or further damaage.
Passengers can carry electronic devices such as laptops, tablets, games in the hold, even though there are fears about exploding lithium batteries as had happened during a Fedex flight in Dubai.
However, security experts said the explosives in laptops need to be triggered by a passenger. This may be the reason why they are to be put in the hold to isolate them from the trigger-passenger.
Emirates Airlines statement on Tuesday
“Emirates can confirm that as per the new security directive issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), electronic devices larger than a cell phone/smart phone, excluding medical devices, cannot be carried in the cabin of the aircraft.
The directive comes into effect on 25 March 2017 and is valid until 14 October 2017.
It is applicable to all US-bound passengers from Dubai International Airport, whether originating or transiting through.
Emirates requests that all passengers travelling to the US pack all electronic devices larger than a cell phone/smart phone in their checked-in baggage.
Etihad Airways statement
Following a directive from U.S. authorities affecting selected airports, Etihad Airways has been advised that guests travelling to the United States from Abu Dhabi International Airport are not permitted to carry electronic devices larger than a cell phone or smart phone in the cabin.
Mobile phones and medical devices are permitted but larger items such as laptops, tablets, cameras and e-readers will need to be placed into checked-in baggage. For those guests bound for the U.S., this must be done at the point of origin which may not necessarily be at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
The new rules come into effect for those US-bound flights departing Abu Dhabi on 25th March.
Safety and security remain the highest priority for Etihad Airways and we will continue to assist passengers in complying with this directive.
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– By Rajive Singh