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Laptops and tablets are now banned from cabin baggage.

UK too bans electronic devices in Mideast flights

LONDON, March 22, 2017

Britain has banned airline passengers on 14 carriers from carrying laptops and other electronic devices in cabin luggage. The ban follows similar one imposed by the US.

British ban, announced hours after the American measure, applies to different airlines. It covers direct flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

The Turkish government said the US ban was wrong and should be reversed, said a BBC report. The US ban is being imposed as an anti-terrorist precaution, reports said.

The ban will come into force on March 25. Large electronic devices will still be allowed on board in checked baggage.

Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau said his country was also considering restrictions on electronics in the cabins of planes.

The airlines affected by the UK ban include British Airways, EasyJet.

The airlines affected by the US ban are Royal Jordanian, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways.

The airlines included in the US decision have been given a deadline of 07:00 GMT on Saturday to impose the ban, officials said, adding that the restriction had no end date.

An Emirates spokeswoman was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying the airline understood that the US directive would come into effect on March 25 and remain valid until October 14.

A Royal Jordanian statement said flights from Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport to the US has been included in the US ban.

It said RJ will implement these instructions as of March 24. "By taking these measures, it spares passengers the hassle of having to go through legal procedures in the US. RJ passengers departing from Queen Alia International Airport to the United States are not allowed to carry any electronic or electrical devices on board the aircraft cabin. Prohibited devices, which include -but not limited to- laptops, iPads, tablets and cameras, can be transported in the checked baggage only, whereas cellular phones and needed medical devices are excluded from the ban," it said.

The RJ stations in the US include: New York, Chicago and Detroit, in addition to Montreal, as it is served by a combined flight with Detroit.

The ban excludes passengers flying from these stations to Amman, the statement said.

"RJ calls upon its passengers traveling to the United States to abide by these instructions to facilitate their travel. They are also requested to inform airport check-in staff of any prohibited devices- which are still in their possession- in order to be put in their checked baggage," it added.




Tags: Ban | UK |

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