Electronics ban on US flights from Turkey, Saudi to be lifted in July

A Syrian woman travelling to the United States through Amman opens her laptop before checking in at Beirut international airport. PHOTO: AFP

ANKARA (REUTERS) - An electronics ban on flights from Istanbul to the United States is due to be lifted on Wednesday (July 5), Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency quoted the transportation minister as saying on Tuesday (July 4).

Anadolu quoted Transportation Minister Ahmet Arslan as saying US officials would come to Istanbul's main Ataturk airport on Wednesday to carry out inspections on the security measures taken, adding that contact with US authorities and the steps taken by Turkey had led to the lifting of the ban.

"With this confirmation inspection, the ban will be lifted from Ataturk Airport and Turkish Airlines...the fact that it didn't last too long is an advantage for us," Mr Arslan said.

The Saudi national airline also said on Tuesday it expects the US to lift a ban on laptops and tablets in the cabins of its US-bound flights from the kingdom by July 19.

Saudia, also known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, said the ban would be lifted "on or before July 19" and it was working with US authorities on "alternative security measures".

In March, the US banned laptops in cabins on flights to the US originating at 10 airports in eight countries - Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey - to address fears that bombs could be concealed in electronic devices taken aboard aircraft.

The US lifted a ban on laptops in cabins on flights from Abu Dhabi to the US, saying Etihad Airways had put in place required tighter security measures, Reuters reported on Monday (July 3).

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