Earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security announced a ban that came to be known commonly as the laptop ban. It banned passengers flying to the United States from certain countries in the Middle East and via certain Middle Eastern airlines from carrying any electronic device larger than a smartphone into the cabin. This meant that passengers couldn’t even use their laptops during the flight, which as you might imagine, wasn’t ideal for business travelers. The DHS has now announced that the laptop ban announced in March has been completely removed.
The situation started to shift earlier this month when the Department of Homeland Security lifted the ban for three Middle Eastern airlines. It was convinced by the security measures that they had taken to allow their passengers to carry all electronic devices onboard. The ban has been lifted entirely now.
A spokesperson for the DHS has confirmed that given the enhanced security measures in place now, “all restrictions on large PEDs announced in March for 10 airports/9 airlines have been lifted.”
Back when the ban was implemented, it was said that there was evaluated intelligence which suggested that terrorist organizations were looking to smuggle bombs onboard planes by concealing them into consumer electronic devices like laptops.
Following the U.S.’ lead, the United Kingdom also implemented a similar ban on flights operating out of airports in the Middle East and North Africa. The UK’s Department of Transport is keeping the ban in place for now.
With enhanced security measures in place, all restrictions on large PEDs announced in March for 10 airports/9 airlines have been lifted.
— ARCHIVED DHS Spokesperson (@SpoxDHS) July 19, 2017
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