The US government has banned laptops on certain international flights from the Middle East
Airbus
"Evaluated intelligence indicates that terrorist groups continue to target commercial aviation and are aggressively pursuing innovative methods to undertake their attacks, to include smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items," a senior administration official said on a call with members of the media.
"Based on this information, Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly and Transportation Security Administration Acting Administrator Huban Gowadia have determined it is necessary to enhance security procedures for passengers at certain last-point-of-departure airports to the United States."
In practice, the enhanced security procedures will require passengers to place all electronic items larger than a cell phone in their checked luggage so the devices cannot be accessed in flight. This includes, but is not limited to, laptops, tablets, e-readers, portable DVD players, gaming devices larger than a smartphone, and travel-sized printers and scanners.
Currently, the FAA requires that all lithium-ion batteries, such as those that power laptops, cameras, and tablets, be allowed on board the aircraft only in carry-on luggage due to concerns about fire. It is unclear how the affected airlines will reconcile those guidelines.
Boeing
In total, 10 airports in eight countries - plus nine airlines - will be affected by the "laptop ban." They include:
- Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) in Amman, Jordan.
- Cairo International Airport (CAI) in Cairo, Egypt.
- Ataturk International Airport (IST) in Istanbul, Turkey.
- King Abdul-Aziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Kuwait International Airport (KWI) near Kuwait City, Kuwait.
- Mohammed V Airport (CMN) in Casablanca, Morocco.
- Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha, Qatar.
- Dubai International Airport (DXB) in Dubai, UAE
- Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Airlines affected by the ban include:
- Royal Jordanian Airlines
- EgyptAir
- Turkish Airlines
- Saudia
- Kuwait Airways
- Royal Air Maroc
- Qatar Airways
- Etihad Airways
- Emirates
According to the senior administration officials on the call, the ban will only affect non-stop flights to the US originating from these airports - which equates to roughly 50 flights per day. Passengers connecting through another destination such as an airport in Europe will not be subject to the ban. However, passengers connecting through the affected airports for non-stop flights to the US are advised to place their large electronic devices in checked luggage at their point of origination.
No US-based airlines will be directly affected by the ban, as none currently offer non-stop service to these Middle Eastern destinations.
In addition, airlines will have up to 96 hours, beginning Tuesday morning at 8:00 a.m. EDT, to comply with the new policy. "If they fail to comply with the security directive and emergency amendment, we will work with the Federal Aviation Administration to pull their (operating) certificates and they will not be allowed to fly to the United States," an administration official said on the call.
Administration officials denied claims the new policy is related to the dispute between American, Delta, and United Airlines and their Middle-Eastern rivals from Qatar and the UAE over allegations of unfair government subsidies.
The DHS cites the attempted downing of Daallo Airlines Flight 159 in February 2016 in which a terrorist managed to sneak a "sophisticated laptop bomb" past x-ray scanners in Somalia as an example of the threat the directive is attempting to counteract. In addition, the agency points to the 2015 bombing of a Russian MetroJet Airbus in Egypt that killed all 224 people on board along with recent terror attacks at Brussels Airport and Ataturk International in Istanbul, Turkey.
Rumors of the laptop ban surfaced on Monday after Royal Jordanian Airlines tweeted a description of the ban to its customers before deleting the post a few hours later.Business Insider asked Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways for comment. Etihad said that it was still sorting through the issue internally and was unable to offer details. Emirates and Qatar Airways said they would share more information once it's available.
Officials say that there is no set timeline for the ban and its necessity will be periodically evaluated.
Royal Jordanian has deleted its tweet regarding the #electronicsban. pic.twitter.com/LdFsAPWfMy
- Jon Ostrower (@jonostrower) March 20, 2017
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- Colon cancer rates are rising in young people. If you have two symptoms you should get a colonoscopy, a GI oncologist says.
- Saudi Arabia wants China to help fund its struggling $500 billion Neom megaproject. Investors may not be too excited.
- Catan adds climate change to the latest edition of the world-famous board game
- Tired of blatant misinformation in the media? This video game can help you and your family fight fake news!
- Tired of blatant misinformation in the media? This video game can help you and your family fight fake news!
- JNK India IPO allotment – How to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more
- Indian Army unveils selfie point at Hombotingla Pass ahead of 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market