U.S. and U.K. RESTRICT IN-CABIN CARRIAGE OF ELECTRONICS
March 21, 2017
Please be advised that a recent TSA circular limits passengers’ ability to travel with electronic devices “larger than a cell phone” in the main cabin on the following airlines: Royal Jordanian, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad. Larger electronics such as iPads, laptops, e-readers, etc., must be placed in checked baggage and transported in the cargo hold although passengers are still permitted to travel with medical devices in the main cabin.
The restriction applies to flights to the U.S. that depart the following airports and countries: Queen Alia (Jordan), Cairo (Egypt), Ataturk (Turkey), King Abdulaziz (Saudi Arabia), King Khalid (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait (Kuwait), Mohammed V (Morocco) , Hamad (Qatar), Dubai and Abu Dhabi (UAE). Please note the TSA circular has no impact on domestic flights in the United States or international flights departing from the United States, and large electronic devices will continue to be allowed in the cabin on all flights originating in the United States. Affected carriers have likely been contacted by TSA or received an emergency directive from the agency so that they can continue to operate in compliance with their model security programs and any TSA related guidance.
Notably, the U.K. took similar actions today to ban large electronic devices in aircraft cabins on all inbound direct flights to the U.K. from the following six Middle Eastern countries: Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia. Like those in the U.S., the U.K. restrictions do not apply to flights departing from the U.K.
Affected U.K. airlines are British Airways, EasyJet, Jet2.com, Monarch, Thomas Cook and Thomson. Foreign airlines impacted by the policy are Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airways, Atlas-Global Airlines, Middle East Airlines, EgyptAir, Royal Jordanian, Tunis Air and Saudia.
This situation is fluid and is likely subject to additional reporting and we will continue to keep our readers up to date on new developments. If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6622) or Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6665).
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