US bans electronics on some flights

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration confirmed today it is imposing new restrictions on electronic devices carried by travellers coming to the United States from 10 airports mainly in the Middle East and North Africa in response to unspecified terror threats.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will require passengers coming to the United States from airports in Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Morocco and Qatar to check in electronic devices larger than a cell phone such as tablets, portable DVD players, laptops and cameras rather than carry them into the cabin.
The airports affected are in Amman, Cairo, Kuwait City, Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Casablanca, Morocco; Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Officials said the decision had nothing to do with President Donald Trump's efforts to impose a travel ban of six majority-Muslim nations.
A DHS spokesman said the government "did not target specific nations".
"We relied upon evaluated intelligence to determine which airports were affected."
On March 6, Trump signed a revised executive order banning citizens from Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from travelling to the United States for 90 days.
Two federal judges have halted parts of the ban, saying it discriminates against Muslims. Trump has vowed to appeal up to the Supreme Court if necessary.
All 10 airports are in majority-Muslim countries.
The airports are served by nine carriers that fly directly from those cities to the United States about 50 times a day and include Royal Jordanian Airlines, Egypt Air, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways, government officials said.
The airlines have until Friday to comply with the new restrictions that will be in place indefinitely.
No American carriers were affected by the ban, because none fly directly to the US from the airports, officials said.
But it does apply to US citizens travelling on those flights. It does not apply to crew members on those foreign carriers.
Officials did not explain why the restrictions only apply to travellers arriving in the United States and not for those same flights when they leave the US.
DHS will also allow passengers to use larger approved medical devices.
The agency said the procedures would "remain in place until the threat changes" and did not rule out expanding to other airports if circumstances changed.
DHS said in a statement it "seeks to balance risk with impacts to the travelling public and has determined that cell phones and smart phones will be allowed in accessible property at this time". — Reuters