A ban on large phones, laptops and tablet devices in the cabins of some flights to the UK from Turkey and Tunisia has been lifted. Continue reading
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‘Laptop ban’ lifted on some flights to UK from Turkey and Tunisia
A ban on large phones, laptops and tablet devices in the cabins of some flights to the UK from Turkey and Tunisia has been lifted.
The Department for Transport this week announced the change which will initially cover inbound flights from two airports: Istanbul Sabiha Goken airport and Tunis.
Another 13 airports will be reviewed on a case by case basis, including many used by holidaymakers flying from Turkey and Egypt.
Restrictions on carrying large phones, laptops, tablets and accessories into the cabin of UK-bound flights from Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Lebanon were imposed in March.
“After working with the aviation industry and international partners to introduce tough additional security measures, the UK government has begun lifting these restrictions on some UK-bound flights,” the DoT said in a statement.
“Restrictions remain in place at other airports and will be lifted on a case-by-case basis once the UK government has verified that airlines have put in place alternative security measures, and that it is safe and proportionate to do so.”
The cabin laptop ban still applies at the Turkish airports of Istanbul Ataturk, Izmir, Bodrum, Antalya and Dalaman; the Egyptian airports of Cairo, Hurghada, Maras Alam and Luxor; Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia; Amman in Jordan and Beirut in Lebanon.
However, the DoT said some airlines flying to the UK from these airports may be exempt.
Passengers were advised to contact their airlines for advice about whether their flights are affected.
The DoT said it would be updating information on its website on an airport-by-airport basis once restrictions have been lifted on all affected airlines.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to warn of a heightened risk of terrorism against aviation in the six countries and that additional security measures may apply on flights to the UK.
