The good news? The UAE isn’t affected by this one (but other countries in the region are).
Just hours after the US imposed a cabin ban on certain electronics on inbound flights from the MENA region, the UK has followed suit.
From this week, the US will forbid passengers departing from Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Morocco and Qatar from carrying laptops, tablets and even Kindles in their hand luggage.
Instead, travellers will have to check in any electronic items larger than their mobile phone (and just pray they don’t get damaged in the baggage handling process).
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On Tuesday, the UK imposed a similar ban, which restricts UK-bound passengers from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia carrying larger electronics in the cabin.
Anything bigger than a smartphone (think DVD players, electronic game devices and larger cameras) will have to go in checked luggage.
Downing Street said the decision followed talks on air security and was “necessary, effective and proportionate”, the BBC reports.
The US ban comes into force on March 25, but it is up to airlines affected by the UK ban to decide when to enforce the new rule.
Carriers affected by the latest ban include Turkish Airlines, Royal Jordanian and Saudia, along with UK airlines such as British Airways, Easyjet and Thomson.
Simon Calder, travel editor of the Independent, has already criticised the move, telling the BBC the ban would particularly affect passengers who opted for hand luggage-only tickets, as they’ll now have to pay to check a bag in.
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The electronics ban bas been devised in reaction to an unspecified terrorism threat, the US government stated on Tuesday.
Under the US ban, airports affected are Cairo International Airport (CAI) – Egypt, Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) – Jordan, Kuwait International Airport (KWI) – Kuwait, Mohammed V Airport (CMN) – Morocco, Hamad International Airport (DOH) – Qatar, King Abdul-Aziz International Airport (JED) – Saudi Arabia, King Khalid International Airport (RUH) – Saudi Arabia, Ataturk International Airport (IST) – Turkey, Dubai International Airport (DXB) – United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) – United Arab Emirates.
Following the move, Emirates has released a video to help passengers affected by the ban find something to do onboard, now that laptops and Kindles are out of the question.
Let us entertain you. pic.twitter.com/FKqayqUdQ7
— Emirates airline (@emirates) March 21, 2017
(Unfortunately a seat next to Jennifer Aniston is not guaranteed).
Image: Getty
