In a similar move to the US’ ban on carry-on electronic gadgets on planes coming from 10 airports in the Middle East and North Africa, the British government has also announced a cabin luggage ban on laptops for direct passenger flights to the UK from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.
Laptops and devices larger than 16cm long, 9.3cm wide or 1.5cm deep will not be permitted, but most smartphones fall inside these limits. The banned items will still be allowed on board checked luggage instead.
Airlines expected to be affected by the gadget ban include Royal Jordanian, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways.
This move comes barely a week after US president Trump’s second attempt at curbing travel from several Muslim-majority countries
