United States: Electronic carry-on ban to be lifted for flights from Istanbul /update 3

Event

The CEO of Turkish Airlines has announced that on Wednesday, July 5, the United States will lift a ban on laptops and other electronics from cabins on direct flights from Istanbul's Atatürk International Airport (IST) to American airports. This announcement comes after the United States lifted the ban on electronics on direct flights departing from Abu Dhabi International Airport, after Etihad Airways - the only airline operating flights between Abu Dhabi and the US - implemented tighter security measures. The US government has not yet issued any official statement regarding the Turkey case.

Context

In March 2017 , a measure went into effect that prevented passengers flying directly to the United States from ten Middle Eastern and North African airports from transporting any electronic devices larger than a "normal sized" smartphone (16 cm x 9.3 cm x 1.5 cm / 6.3 in x 3.5 in x 0.6 in) in carry-on luggage. Laptops, tablets, e-readers, cameras, DVD players, and video games must be transported in checked luggage if flying to the US from these airports. Turkish Airways responded by providing laptops to its business travelers.

As a reminder, the restrictions currently (as of July 4) remain in place at the following nine airports:

• Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) in Amman, Jordan
• Cairo International Airport (CAI) in Egypt
• Atatürk International Airport (IST) in Istanbul, Turkey
• King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Kuwait International Airport (KWI)
• Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) in Casablanca, Morocco
• Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha, Qatar
• Dubai International Airport (DXB) in the United Arab Emirates
  

Advice

Travelers are advised to contact their airline for more information.