06 Jul 2017 | 09:41 AM UTC
UAE: US electronics ban reportedly lifted for Emirates airlines /update 1
Emirates airlines announces US electronics ban lifted; no official confirmation from US government
Event
Emirates airlines announced on July 5 that the ban on laptops and other electronics in cabins on flights to the United States - in place since March - had been lifted for its direct flights from Dubai International Airport (DXB), effective immediately. The US government has not yet issued any official statement to confirm this claim.
Context
On March 24, a measure went into effect that prevented passengers flying directly to the United States from ten Middle Eastern and North African airports from transporting any electronic devices larger than a "normal sized" smartphone (16 cm x 9.3 cm x 1.5 cm / 6.3 in x 3.5 in x 0.6 in) in carry-on luggage. Laptops, tablets, e-readers, cameras, DVD players, and video games must be transported in checked luggage if flying to the US from these airports.
Qatar Airways announced on Thursday, July 6, that the US had lifted the electronics ban on flights departing from Doha's Hamad International Airport (DOH), and the CEO of Turkish Airlines made the same claim regarding direct flights from Istanbul's Atatürk International Airport (IST). Saudi Arabian Airlines also announced it hopes to be off the ban list on or before July 19. These announcements came after the United States lifted the ban on electronics on direct flights departing from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH). The US government has not yet issued any official statement regarding the Turkey, Saudi, or Emirates cases.
As a reminder, the restrictions were initially implemented at the following ten airports:
- Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) in Amman, Jordan
- Cairo International Airport (CAI) in Egypt
- Atatürk International Airport (IST) in Istanbul, Turkey
- King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Kuwait International Airport (KWI)
- Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) in Casablanca, Morocco
- Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha, Qatar
- Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) in the United Arab Emirates
- Dubai International Airport (DXB) in the United Arab Emirates
Advice
Travelers are advised to contact their airline for more information.
