Emirates and Turkish Airlines are the latest carriers to become exempt from the laptop ban on flights to the US.
On Sunday, Etihad Airways announced that passengers flying non-stop from Abu Dhabi to the US will no longer be banned from carrying large electronic devices on board. Today, Emirates and Turkish Airlines have made similar announcements.
Passengers flying on direct flights from Dubai or Istanbul to the US can now take laptops on board with them after additional checks were introduced at Turkish and UAE airports.
Sani Sener, the chief executive of TAV Airports Holdings, which operates Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport, said that US-bound passengers are now checked four times, with two checks happening at the boarding area.
Effective immediately laptops & electronic devices can be taken onboard all Emirates flights from Dubai to the US https://t.co/ii805S5mkN pic.twitter.com/iU7WCFKSq1
— Emirates airline (@emirates) 5 July 2017
Dear Passengers, #WelcomeOnBoard to our US-bound flight. Please fasten your seatbelts and enjoy your own electronic devices. pic.twitter.com/WbcZwNPhrf
— Turkish Airlines (@TurkishAirlines) 4 July 2017
In March, the US banned passengers from carrying electronic devices larger than a smartphone on non-stop flights to the US from the ten airports across eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
The original nine airlines affected by the US electronics ban were:
- Qatar Airways
- Emirates
- Etihad Airways
- Royal Jordanian
- Egypt Air
- Turkish Airlines
- Saudi Arabian Airlines
- Kuwait Airways
- Royal Air Maroc
Last month, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said he was considering banning large electronic devices from the passenger cabins of all international flights to and from the US.
Despite the progress airlines have made in satisfying US Homeland Security, the UK has shown no intention of lifting their laptop ban.
[adblockingdetector id="638efa67113bf"]