US, UK ban large devices from cabins - but are they telling terrorists too much?

BTN News
Wednesday, 22 March 2017

The UK is following the US with a ban on electronic devices carried as hand baggage on inbound direct services by airlines, though it has set different criteria - with whole countries selected instead of individual airports. 

Both countries say the ban has no 'end date' and is in response to terror fears. The US Department of Homeland Security added that extremists were seeking “innovative methods” to attack jets and cited an incident in Somalia in February last year when a bomb exploded shortly after takeoff, ripping a hole in the plane’s side and killing the suspected bomber.

The Australian Government says it has no plans to immediately follow US and British bans and will monitor the situation, while Canada and France are considering their position. 

Commentators already question whether the bans give too much information to intending terrorists - encouraging them simply to change their itineraries - and say a global 'blanket ban' on devices might be more effective and easier to police.

Different services

On UK direct flights, passengers from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia will not be able to take any electronic device larger than a smartphone on board. Laptops, tablet devices and larger cameras will need to be placed in the hold. The UK also has specified the maximum size of devices allowed — 16 centimetres in length, 9.3 cm in width and 1.5 cm thick. 

The USA has instead selected individual airports for its ban, namely Queen Alia International in Jordan, Cairo International in Egypt, Ataturk International in Turkey, King Abdulaziz International and King Khalid International in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait International in Kuwait, Mohammed V International in Morocco, Doha International in Qatar, plus Dubai International and Abu Dhabi International in the United Arab Emirates.

US airlines do not have direct flights from the airports affected, so the US ban affects nine non-US airlines: Royal Jordanian, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways.

The British ban affects British airlines British Airways, EasyJet, Jet2.com, Monarch, Thomas Cook and Thomson plus eight foreign carriers including Egyptair, Royal Jordanian, Tunis Air and Turkish Airlines.

As well as leisure passenger 'inconvenience' for those who like to use their devices to play music or watch movies in flight, the bans also will affect business travellers who use their devices to work during journeys.

The bans also will affect insurance policies, many of which do not cover electronic devices carried as hold baggage. - JH

US, UK ban large devices from cabins - but are they telling terrorists too much?

BTN News
Wednesday, 22 March 2017

The UK is following the US with a ban on electronic devices carried as hand baggage on inbound direct services by airlines, though it has set different criteria - with whole countries selected instead of individual airports. 

Both countries say the ban has no 'end date' and is in response to terror fears. The US Department of Homeland Security added that extremists were seeking “innovative methods” to attack jets and cited an incident in Somalia in February last year when a bomb exploded shortly after takeoff, ripping a hole in the plane’s side and killing the suspected bomber.

The Australian Government says it has no plans to immediately follow US and British bans and will monitor the situation, while Canada and France are considering their position. 

Commentators already question whether the bans give too much information to intending terrorists - encouraging them simply to change their itineraries - and say a global 'blanket ban' on devices might be more effective and easier to police.

Different services

On UK direct flights, passengers from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia will not be able to take any electronic device larger than a smartphone on board. Laptops, tablet devices and larger cameras will need to be placed in the hold. The UK also has specified the maximum size of devices allowed — 16 centimetres in length, 9.3 cm in width and 1.5 cm thick. 

The USA has instead selected individual airports for its ban, namely Queen Alia International in Jordan, Cairo International in Egypt, Ataturk International in Turkey, King Abdulaziz International and King Khalid International in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait International in Kuwait, Mohammed V International in Morocco, Doha International in Qatar, plus Dubai International and Abu Dhabi International in the United Arab Emirates.

US airlines do not have direct flights from the airports affected, so the US ban affects nine non-US airlines: Royal Jordanian, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways.

The British ban affects British airlines British Airways, EasyJet, Jet2.com, Monarch, Thomas Cook and Thomson plus eight foreign carriers including Egyptair, Royal Jordanian, Tunis Air and Turkish Airlines.

As well as leisure passenger 'inconvenience' for those who like to use their devices to play music or watch movies in flight, the bans also will affect business travellers who use their devices to work during journeys.

The bans also will affect insurance policies, many of which do not cover electronic devices carried as hold baggage. - JH