The UK is following a US ban on passengers taking electronic devices in cabin luggage on non-stop flights from ten airports in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Passengers travelling from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia to the UK will be asked to check in electronic devices larger than 16cm in length, 9.3cm in width and 1.5cm in depth.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s spokesperson said that “direct flights to the UK from these destinations can continue to operate to the UK subject to these new measures being in place.”
Flights from Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are currently not affected by the UK ban.
The US introduced the ban earlier today, stating that only medical devices and mobile phones will be allowed on board as carry-on items, while laptops, tablets, cameras, DVD players and electronic games will have to be checked in.
In a statement issued by the Department of Homeland Security, the US government said that it “had reason to be concerned about attempts by terrorist groups to circumvent aviation security and terrorist groups continue to target aviation interests.”
The ban applies to passengers travelling from or transiting through the following airports:
- Queen Alia International Airport (Amman)
- Cairo International Airport
- Ataturk International Airport (Istanbul)
- King Abdul-Aziz International Airport (Jeddah)
- King Khalid International Airport (Riyadh)
- Kuwait International Airport (Kuwait City)
- Mohammed V Airport (Casablanca)
- Hamad International Airport (Doha)
- Dubai International Airport
- Abu Dhabi International Airport
The US restrictions are thought to affect nine airlines in total, including major Gulf connectors Etihad, Qatar Airways and Emirates.
Emirates, based in Dubai, flies to 12 US cities, including New York, Chicago, and Washington DC. Etihad flies to seven US destinations from its hub in Abu Dhabi.