The US has entirely lifted its laptop ban for passengers flying from 10 airports in the Middle East and North Africa into the country, after the Department of Homeland Security declared that it is satisfied with “enhanced security measures in place”.
The controversial ban, which was imposed in March this year to address the potential threat of hidden explosives, was lifted earlier this month for Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines. The remaining airports and airlines are now exempted too.
Welcoming the end of the laptop ban, Greeley Koch, executive director of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, commented: “This is one less burdensome regulation business travellers – and tourists – must grapple with as they plan their future travel. The policy was insufficient as a standalone measure to address very real ongoing security threats, and did not take into account the need for travellers to maintain connectivity and productivity, especially for long intercontinental flights where being off the grid can lead to business interruption.”
A travel ban on citizens from six Muslim-majority countries – Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen – still remains but this is being challenged in US courts.
