USA & UK Electronic Bans - does it affect you?

The US and the UK have both moved to ban electronic devices larger than a mobile phone from cabins on flights from some Middle Eastern and North African countries.
 
The new security measures will mean that electronic items and devices larger than a mobile phone will be required to be carried in checked luggage only, not in the main cabin in hand luggage. This will apply to (but is not limited to), laptops, tablets, portable DVD players, cameras, e-readers and gaming devices larger than a smartphone.
 
The policy came into effect on Friday 24 March 2017 and will impact flights travelling to the United States and the United Kingdom from the following list of countries.

USA

The US policy has banned large electronic devices on flights from the following countries:

• Jordan
• Egypt
• Turkey
• Saudi Arabia
• Kuwait
• Qatar
• Morocco
• United Arab Emirates

Airports affected include those in Dubai and Abu Dhabi – the hubs of Emirates and Etihad Airways in the United Arab Emirates – along with Hamad International Airport in Doha, home to Qatar Airways. So if you are flying with any of these airlines to the USA, you will need to pack your electronic devices into your main suitcase from your Australian airport - regardless of if your are just in transit in one of the aforementioned airports. If you are overnighting in Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi before continuing on to the USA, you can use your electronic devices on board for the flight from Australia to the Middle East but would need to pack them in your suitcase, prior to continuing on. 

Ataturk Airport in Istanbul (Turkey), Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport (Jordan), Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport (Morocco), Cairo International Airport (Egypt), Kuwait International Airport (Kuwait City, Kuwait), and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdul-Aziz and King Khalid International Airports in Jeddah and Riyadh are also on the list where restrictions apply.

UK

The UK's policy, is slightly less restrictive and applies to flights from the six following countries:

• Turkey
• Lebanon
• Jordan
• Egypt
• Tunisia
• Saudi Arabia

On flights from these countries, electronic devices larger than 16cm in length, 9.3cm in width and 1.5cm in depth can again only be transported in checked baggage and cannot be brought into the aircraft cabin.

The UK is not imposing this restriction on flights from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (nor from Kuwait or Morocco), which means passengers flying with Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways – plus Qantas, British Airways and more – are not affected.

Importantly, non-stop flights from Australia to the United States are not covered by these bans. The ban also does not apply to any flights departing the United States to any destination, including all domestic and international flights. 

If you are flying from the UK or USA via any of the above airports to Australia, the restrictions will not apply.
 
For more information on the UK policy click here: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/additional-airline-security-measures-on-some-routes-travelling-to-the-uk
 
For further information on the US policy click here: https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/03/21/fact-sheet-aviation-security-enhancements-select-last-point-departure-airports

Please contact your Phil Hoffmann Travel Consultant if you have any further questions or for more information.