No More Laptops, Tablets on Some UK, US Flights

The US and UK announced this week the prohibition effective immediately of any electronic devices larger than a smartphone on a number of flights from the Middle East and North Africa as a security measure, with Canada also saying it was considering the measure.

The UK ban, which applies to inbound flights from six countries and includes carriers such as British Airways and EasyJet, said flyers on 14 airlines would could not bring laptops in cabin luggage on inbound direct flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. According to the BBC, the ban comes after “evaluated intelligence’’.

The US bar, which applies to eight countries, is imposed on Royal Jordanian, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways. “We have reason to be concerned about attempts by terrorist groups to circumvent aviation security,’’ read a statement issued by Department of Homeland Security.

The 10 airports affected are:

Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan
Cairo International Airport, Egypt
Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey
King Abdul-Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Kuwait International Airport
Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca, Morocco
Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar
Dubai International Airport, UAE
Abu Dhabi International Airport, UAE