U.K. bans cabin laptops
on flights out of Beirut

Follows similar U.S. measures

The U.K. has joined the U.S. in banning laptops and other electronic devices in airplane cabins on flights from Lebanon and several other Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries. The ban comes amid security concerns.

Inbound direct flights from Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Turkey will be affected by the ban.

Mobile telephones larger than what is considered to be ‘normal-sized’ mobiles or smartphones will also be forbidden.

Laptops, e-readers, cameras, kindles, tablets, printers, electronic games and portable DVD players are affected by the ban – which applies to direct flights. Electrical items may still be stowed in checked baggage. Approved medical devices may be brought into the cabin after additional screening.

“We have been in close contact with the Americans throughout this process,” a spokesperson of the British Prime Minister Theresa May said.

“We’ve spoken closely, but we’ve each taken our own decisions,” he said.

The measures affect 14 airlines: Middle East Airlines, Atlas Global, British Airways, EasyJet, EgyptAir, Jet2.com, Monarch, Pegasus Airlines, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Saudi Airlines, Thomas Cook, Thomson Airways, Tunisian, and Turkish Airlines.

The United States imposed a similar restriction which does not affect Lebanon because there are no direct flights between the two countries. The ban will apply to non-stop flights to the US from ten international airports serving Cairo, Amman, Jordan, Kuwait, Casablanca, Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai. The procedures will affect nine airlines: EgyptAir, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Kuwait Airways, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Saudi Airlines, and Turkish Airlines.

Outbound flights from the U.K. and the U.S. to the Middle East will be unaffected by these measures