2017 electronics ban

The 2017 electronics ban was an order issued by the United States government in March 2017 banning electronics beyond the size of a mobile phone on carry-on luggage for direct flights departing from 10 major airports in the Middle East and traveling to the United States, and requiring airlines to enforce this ban.[1] The order was issued based on intelligence that the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was planning on using batteries and compartments of large electronic equipment to conceal explosives that are not detectable by current aviation security scanners.[2] The US government has been accused by the International Air Transport Association of implementing the ban more of as a protectionist measure to shield major US airlines from increasing competition of major airlines from the Middle East than for security reasons.[3] The United Kingdom has issued a similar ban but covers a different range of airports and airlines, including low-cost airlines.[4] US officials lifted the ban in July 2017, citing improved airport security.[5]

  1. ^ Ostrower, Jon; Marsh, Rene (March 20, 2017). "Electronics banned from cabins on some Middle Eastern and African flights to U.S." CNN.
  2. ^ Starr, Barbara; Marsh, Rene (March 22, 2017). "AQAP trying to hide explosives in laptop batteries, official says". CNN. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  3. ^ "Trump's Electronics Ban Is Ineffective, Says International Air Transport Association Chief". Reuters. Fortune. March 29, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  4. ^ Ostrower, Jon; Riley, Charles; Thompson, Mark (March 21, 2017). "U.S. and U.K. ban laptops and other devices on flights from Middle East". CNN.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference ban lifted was invoked but never defined (see the help page).