The United States government has started the ban on laptops and other electronics larger than a cell phone on Tuesday morning from eight Muslim-majority nations, nine airlines, and ten airports. The new policy is a measure against terrorism that continues to target air flights and consumer technology for their attacks.
All electronics must be stowed away in check-in luggage rather than carry-on with the passengers aboard the cabin. About 50 daily US-bound direct flights are affected. If the airline ignores the new policy, authorities will ask the Federal Aviation Administration to withdraw the carrier's certificate to fly to the country.
According to Fox News, the eight countries included are Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Morocco. Meanwhile, the airlines affected are those of Royal Jordanian, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Egypt Air, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airways, and Saudi Arabian Airlines.
Muslim-majority nations with US bound flights - Queen Alia Airport, Cairo Airport, Ataturk Airport, King Abdulaziz Airport, King Khalid International Airport, Kuwait International Airport, Mohammed V International Airport, Doha Airport, Dubai Airport, and Abu Dhabi Airport - should take note of the new law.
There were no imminent threats when the decision to place the laptop ban commenced, but officials say it's necessary that global aviation system should have proper security and defenses. A senior administration official of the Transportation Security Administration told USA Today: "Evaluated intelligence indicates that terrorists continue to target commercial aviation and are aggressively pursuing innovative methods to undertake their attacks, to include smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items."
Homeland Security and State Department officials have announced the "laptop ban" to the affected countries last Sunday. Many airlines have received a note that the ban will only be up to Oct. 14, but according to the government, the ban is indefinite.
The announcement of the new policy was so sudden that three major airlines were only notified about it recently. Emirates, Etihad, and EgyptAir weren't aware of the change that they allowed passengers to carry with them their laptops and other gadgets.
Passengers at the moment were worried and angered at the thought of a yet another discriminatory attack from the US government deployed by the Trump administration.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
