UK issues laptop, tablet flight ban for six countries
In similar move to US, certain electronic devices now prohibited in airplane cabins because of bomb scares
The United Kingdom on Tuesday issued a ban on laptops and tablets in airplane cabins on flights from six countries, following a similar move by the US.
The BBC reported prior to the announcement that the British restrictions “may differ” from those announced by the United States, but government sources confirmed that they were being reviewed.
“Obviously we are privy to the same intelligence as the Americans. We will be updating our plans later this afternoon,” a government source told AFP.
A transport ministry spokesman also said Britain’s plans were due to be updated later in the day.
The United States warned earlier that terrorists plan to target passenger jets with bombs hidden in electronic devices, and banned carrying them in cabins on flights from 10 airports.
Senior US officials told reporters that nine airlines from eight countries had been given 96 hours, beginning at 3:00 am eastern time on Tuesday, to ban devices bigger than a mobile phone from the cabin.
Laptops, tablets and portable game consoles are affected by the ban — which applies to direct flights to the United States — but they may still be stowed in the hold in checked baggage.
The ban was revealed Monday in statements from Royal Jordanian Airlines and the official news agency of Saudi Arabia.
Other airlines affected include Royal Jordanian, EgyptAir, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines.
Turkish Transport Minister Ahmet Arslan said that Turkey would ask the US to reverse its ban on Turkish Airlines, which has the highest foreign sales of any Turkish company.
“We particularly emphasize how this will not benefit the passenger and that reverse steps or a softening should be adopted,” Arslan told reporters, saying the decision was not right for Turkey or the US.
Arslan said Turkish officials were speaking to their relevant American counterparts regarding the ban, which applies to direct flights to the US.
The minister said he hoped there would be a “positive” outcome from the talks, which began Monday.
“Annually, 80 million flights take off from Istanbul and in my opinion, people should not confuse it” with less high-profile destinations, Arslan added.
On Tuesday, Israel Airports Authority Spokesman Ofer Lefler said that the ban would not apply to US bound flights from Israel.
AP and Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
