US lifts laptop ban on second, third airline

Woman waiting his flight at airport terminal, sitting on chair and typing on the laptop.

Following Etihad Airways’ scoring a free pass from the US on the electronics ban, a second and third airline have been granted a pardon.

Emirates now joins fellow Gulf carrier Etihad, with both now permitted to have passengers with laptops onboard flights into the US. Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines claims it’s also now allowing passengers travelling to the US to take their laptops onboard.

The laptop ban, as it fast became known, was brought in earlier this year by the US Department of Homeland Security, who slapped a ban on personal electronics larger than mobile phones for flights out of 10 airports into the US, and on non-stop flights to America on nine airlines.

These nine airlines happened to include some of the biggest airlines in the world, with the likes of Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways just a few included in the ban.

US authorities claimed the ban was a reaction to terror threats and concerns, specifically in relation to bombs concealed in large electronics like laptops.

An Emirates spokesperson told Travel Weekly, “Effective immediately, the electronics ban has been lifted for Emirates’ flights from Dubai International Airport to the U.S.A.

“Emirates has been working hard in coordination with various aviation stakeholders and the local authorities to implement heightened security measures and protocols that meet the requirements of the US Department of Homeland Security’s new security guidelines for all US bound flights.

“We would like to express our gratitude to the US and local authorities for their support and thank our customers for their understanding and patience during the last few months when the ban was in place.”

Per the BBC, Dubai, Istanbul and Abu Dhabi airports are reported to have put tighter security checks in place, leading to the hub airlines being allowed to sneak past the previously instated laptop ban.

According to the BBC, Turkish Airlines said on Twitter that all electronic devices would be allowed on its US flights from Wednesday.

It leaves Qatar, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait waiting to have the ban lifted.

Saudia, the flagship carrier for Saudi Arabia, said passengers would be able to take the electronics on US flights from 19 July, per BBC.

Your laptops, tablets, cameras and other electronic devices are passengers to the United States again! pic.twitter.com/QUSDHM9T15
— Turkish Airlines (@TurkishAirlines) July 5, 2017

The laptop ban caused mayhem for a number of passengers, but in particular business travellers, who do a great amount of work on laptops whilst in the air.

Airlines like Qatar started offering their own security cleared laptops inflight for travellers, with Emirates following suit in search of loopholes in the ban.

Australia even considered bringing in a laptop ban at one stage.

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electronics ban emirates etihad airways laptop ban turkish airways US Department of Homeland Security usa