The US initiated the ban, apparently in response to a ‘credible’ terror threat from IS – banning larger electronic devices in the cabin on a number of direct inbound flights from countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Morocco and the UAE. The UK followed suit soon afterwards with bans on flights from Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Tunisia.
Peter King of the House Intelligence Committee in the US told the New York Times, “It was based on intelligence reports that are fairly recent. Intelligence of something possibly planned.” It’s believed IS may have mastered hiding devices in laptop batteries in their bid to bring down a western aircraft. It is not known how long the ban will be in effect for, but it is likely to start on March 25th.
Any device larger than 16cmx9.3cm is banned from hand luggage and must be stowed in the hold.
Airports/Countries affected by the US ban
Mohammed V International, Casablanca, Morocco
Ataturk Airport, Istanbul, Turkey
Cairo International Airport, Egypt
Queen Alia International, Amman, Jordan
King Abdulaziz International, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
King Khalid International, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Kuwait International Airport
Hamad International, Doha, Qatar
Abu Dhabi International, United Arab Emirates
Airlines affected by the UK ban
easyJet
British Airways
Jet2.com
Monarch
Thomas Cook
Thomson
plus Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airways, Atlas-Global Airlines, Middle East Airlines, EgyptAir, Royal Jordanian, Tunis Air and Saudia.
Be prepared for extra security if you are travelling from any of the effected countries.
Source: bbc.co.uk
