In-Cabin Laptop Ban Lifted on U.S.-Bound Flights From Dubai and Istanbul

[MacRumors]

The U.S. government has lifted the in-cabin ban on laptops and other large electronic devices on inbound flights from Dubai and Istanbul, according to Emirates and Turkish Airlines.

An Emirates spokesperson told Reuters on Wednesday that the ban was lifted for flights out of Dubai after the airline adopted new security measures announced last week by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Turkish Airlines tweeted on Tuesday that the ban had been lifted, while CEO Bilal Eksi informed Reuters that he also expected restrictions to be lifted for U.K.-bound flights.

The original ban came into effect in March on flights originating at 10 airports in eight countries, including Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey. The ban was imposed after "evaluated intelligence" suggested a bomb threat that involved smaller bombs being concealed in electronic devices taken aboard aircraft.

The new enhanced security measures were announced on June 29 and require additional time to screen passengers. The new protocol takes effect within three weeks of the announcement and will affect around 325,000 daily passengers travelling on 180 airlines from 280 airports around the world, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Saudi Arabia Airlines (Saudia) expects the ban to lifted on flights from Jeddah and Riyadh by July 19, state news agency SPA reported on Tuesday.

Article Link: In-Cabin Laptop Ban Lifted on U.S.-Bound Flights From Dubai and Istanbul

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

The number of direct flights from those airports to the US were very minimal, impacting very few. In almost all cases, one would connect through another airport, most commonly in Europe, first, and not be impacted by this.

 

[Avieshek]

Well, Dubai imports sand through flights.

 

[Sunny1990]

The risk of explosion is still there,Not from a bomb concealed in a laptop.It Can be from a faulty battery in someone's laptop or from a cheapo tablet

 

[5105973]

The risk of explosion is still there,Not from a bomb concealed in a laptop.It Can be from a faulty battery in someone's laptop or from a cheapo tablet

Don't look at me. I turned in my Note 7!

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

The number of direct flights from those airports to the US were very minimal, impacting very few. In almost all cases, one would connect through another airport, most commonly in Europe, first, and not be impacted by this.

I assume that would mean passing through security again, where whatever they're worried about would have been caught.

 

[Sayewhat]

Its opened up in Abu Dhabi also on Etihad airlines. Works out perfect since I fly back to the US in a couple weeks. Etihad was the first to be allowed. I haven't been up to Dubai's airport in a while, but it makes sense for Abu Dhabi. We have a TSA unit that works all US bound flights.

 

[jkool]

Istanbul was Constantinople. Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople.

 

[kstotlani]

The number of direct flights from those airports to the US were very minimal, impacting very few. In almost all cases, one would connect through another airport, most commonly in Europe, first, and not be impacted by this.

Emirates and Etihad are two of the best luxury airlines and cheaper than most American or European airlines. Dubai had 84 million passenger footfall last year which is the largest in terms of international travelers. They have swiftly moved over London Heathrow. Their plan to expand to various cities in the US is a major threat to American airliners. Most business travelers prefer Emirates because of the luxury and the customer service even though they don't have the best frequent flier programme yet. This laptop ban almost seemed like a targeted attack on their growth. Lot of my fellow travelers are happy today and most of them travel to/from US.

 

[CarlJ]

I haven't been up to Dubai's airport in a while, but it makes sense for Abu Dhabi. We have a TSA unit that works all US bound flights.

Security theater has a traveling roadshow?

 

[cube]

I read that airports around the world will have to get latest generation scanners.

 

[Superhai]

Istanbul was Constantinople. Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople.

I don't see anyone writing Constantinople here?

 

[Stefan johansson]

Turkish airlines also lifted that ban.

 

[nwcs]

Istanbul was Constantinople. Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople.

It was Byzantium before that.

 

[CarlJ]

I don't see anyone writing Constantinople here?

Per Wikipedia:

"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" is a 1953 novelty song ... the lyrics humorously refer to the official 1930 renaming of the city of Constantinople to Istanbul.
...
One of the better-known versions of "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" is the cover by the alternative rock band They Might Be Giants (TMBG), who released it on their album Flood in 1990.​

Istanbul - They Might Be Giants - lyrics - YouTube

 

[hotgril]

Per Wikipedia:

"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" is a 1953 novelty song ... the lyrics humorously refer to the official 1930 renaming of the city of Constantinople to Istanbul.
...
One of the better-known versions of "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" is the cover by the alternative rock band They Might Be Giants (TMBG), who released it on their album Flood in 1990.​

Istanbul - They Might Be Giants - lyrics - YouTube

For some reason, several people on MR makes these jokes every time Turkey is mentioned. This explanation is needed.

 

[Stefan johansson]

I don't see anyone writing Constantinople here?

Istanbul was in fact called Constantinople a long time ago,but the ancient norsemen that was enlisted in the emperors guard also called it Miklagård.

 

[Dominicanyor]

Don't look at me. I turned in my Note 7!

Lol

 

[Schizoid]

Istanbul was Constantinople. Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople.

Why did Constantinople get the works?!
[doublepost=1499283410][/doublepost]...also who's going to cram some explosives into a MacBook?!

Maybe that bloke from iFixit?

 

[justperry]

The number of direct flights from those airports to the US were very minimal, impacting very few. In almost all cases, one would connect through another airport, most commonly in Europe, first, and not be impacted by this.

You think 325.000 is very few.
See below.

The new enhanced security measures were announced on June 29 and require additional time to screen passengers. The new protocol takes effect within three weeks of the announcement and will affect around 325,000 daily passengers travelling on 180 airlines from 280 airports around the world, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

You think 325.000 is very few.
See below.

Those numbers don't reflect the number of flights from the impacted airport TO the US, which is where the ban came into play. Those 325,000 passengers were mostly coming from airports within the banned area then stopping at other international airports before continuing on to the US. The ban would not have impacted most of them.

 

[Markoth]

Why did Constantinople get the works?!

Why do you care? It's nobody's business but the Turks.

 

[Superhai]

Istanbul was in fact called Constantinople a long time ago,but the ancient norsemen that was enlisted in the emperors guard also called it Miklagård.

I know many of the names of Istanbul, but why was this relevant here?

 

[FloatingBones]

The number of direct flights from those airports to the US were very minimal, impacting very few. In almost all cases, one would connect through another airport, most commonly in Europe, first, and not be impacted by this.

There are 18 different airline-city combinations that have direct flights to/from Dubai. They're listed here. Emirates has three nonstops daily between Dubai and JFK. That one airline has thousands of seats weekly -- just to JFK. How do you score that as "very minimal"?

 

[sudo1996]

How come you can't use a laptop during takeoff/landing, but you can use a Surface?