The UK government has issued a new decree for airlines flying direct from several countries in North Africa and the Middle East, forcing laptops, tablets and phablets to be stored in the hold.
Passengers boarding flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia will no longer be allowed laptops, tablets or smartphones over 16x9.3x1.5cm in their hand baggage, according to the Department of Transport.
No start date has yet been announced, but the new rules will affect the following UK carriers: BA, EasyJet, Jet2.com, Monarch, Thomas Cook and Thomson.
The announcement followed a similar one from Washington, which was more explicit in claiming that bombs could be hidden in such devices. However, it’s unclear how forcing devices into the hold will improve security and screening.
Interestingly, the US order covers a slightly different list of countries: Morocco, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey.
“In conjunction with our international partners and the aviation industry, the UK government keeps aviation security under constant review. The UK has some of the most robust aviation security measures in the world and at all times the safety and security of the public is our primary concern,” said transport secretary, Chris Grayling.
“We understand the frustration that these measures may cause and we are working with the aviation industry to minimise any impact. Our top priority will always be to maintain the safety of British nationals.”
It’s thought a bomb hidden in a laptop was responsible for an explosion on a plane last year claimed by Somali Islamist militant group al-Shabab.
Only one passenger on that occasion – the alleged bomber – was killed. But no one survived the 2015 downing of a Russian flight from Egypt which experts believe was caused by a bomb on board.