Back in March, I posted that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was banning all electronic devices bigger than a smartphone onboard all flights from certain Middle Eastern and North African countries to the US. Electronics devices such as laptops, cameras, and tablets needed to be checked-in at the point of origin, or at the gate before boarding US-bound flights. This proved to be very problematic, especially for business travelers who need to work during the flight.

This was a security measure to deter terrorists from hiding explosives inside laptops and other electronic devices.

The electronics ban originally affected the following airports:

• Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Etihad
• Amman  (AMM) – Royal Jordanian
• Cairo (CAI) – Egyptair
• Casablanca (CMN) – Royal Air Maroc
• Doha (DOH) – Qatar Airways
• Dubai (DXB) – Emirates
• Jeddah (JED) – Saudia
• Istanbul (IST) – Turkish Airlines
• Kuwait City (KWI) – Kuwait Airways
• Riyadh (RUH) – Saudia

Last week, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it may widen the electronics ban to all 280 countries with direct flights to the US, if they fail to adopt expanded security and screening measures for US-bound flights. All airports with direct flights to the US had 21 days to implement the use explosive detecting scanners, and 120 days to implement a more thorough passenger security screening process.

A few days ago, the electronics ban was lifted on Etihad when it implemented additional security screenings for their US-bound flights. Today, Turkish Airlines, and Emirates have also reported that the electronics ban has been lifted on their flights to the US.

Etihad:

Take all your electronics on US flights from Abu Dhabi

If you are travelling with us to the United States from Abu Dhabi International Airport, you are now able to carry allelectronic devices on board.

Source: Etihad

Etihad is kind of special case, since all their US-bound flights originate from Abu Dhabi airport. As some of you know, Abu Dhabi airport is a US pre-clearance facility which allows you to clear US immigration and Customs even before you depart for the US. This means the flight is treated as a domestic flight when it arrives in the US, and you can just exit without going through inspection.

Turkish Airlines:

Information on our U.S bound flights

If you are travelling to US from İstanbul Atatürk Airport , you can carry your all electronic devices on board.

Source: Turkish Airlines

Emirates:

Travel to the USA: Electronics ban lifted from Dubai

Effective immediately, the electronics ban has been lifted for Emirates’ flights from Dubai International Airport to the U.S.A. Emirates has been working hard in coordination with various aviation stakeholders and the local authorities to implement heightened security measures and protocols that meet the requirements of the US Department of Homeland Security’s new security guidelines for all US bound flights. We would like to express our gratitude to the US and local authorities for their support and thank our customers for their understanding and patience during the last few months when the ban was in place.

Source: Emirates