UK follows US in banning electronics items from certain flights
Main page News, Aviation, Politics

The UK will follow the US in banning electronics items larger than a mobile phone on flights from a number of predominantly Muslim countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

The new rules will affect 14 airlines, six of which are based in the UK.

There are fears that explosives could be smuggled onto flights inside laptops, tablets and other electronics devices.

"The additional security measures may cause some disruption for passengers and flights, and we understand the frustration that will cause, but our top priority will always be to maintain the safety of British nationals," the government said in a statement.

Prime Minister Theresa may said the UK had received the same information that prompted the US to introduce the electronics restrictions.

The restrictions will affect British Airways, EasyJet, Jet2.com, Monarch, Thomas Cook, Thomson, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airways, Atlas-Global Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Egyptair, Royal Jordanian, Tunis Air and Saudia.

The nine airlines included in the US ban are Egyptair, Emirates, Etihad, Kuwait Airways, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Turkish Airlines.

No US airlines are affected by either nation’s ban.

However, the points of departure subject to the UK ban are not the same as those targeted by the US.

Passengers on direct flights to the UK from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia will all be impacted by the new regulations.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Doha, Kuwait City and Casablanca are all affected by the US ban but are not included in the UK’s new restrictions.

The move is expected to cause delays at check-ins with British Airways warning customers at the affected airports to allow plenty of time to check-in.

Germany is reportedly considering enacting a similar ban, according to a spokesperson for the country's interior ministry.

BBC

Read also:
Please describe the error
Close