Ankara: Britain has told Turkish authorities it will lift the ban on electronics in aircraft cabins in flights from Turkey, Turkish diplomatic sources told Reuters on Thursday.

The sources said that Alan Duncan, Britain`s minister for Europe and Foreign Minister Boris Johnson both called Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to tell him the ban was being lifted.

However, there was no immediate confirmation from British officials.

"The safety and security of the travelling public is our top priority. We keep our aviation security measures under constant review, but we do not comment on speculation or leaks," a spokesman for Britain`s Department for Transport said.

Major airlines flying from Turkey to Britain include Turkish Airlines and British Airways, which is owned by International Consolidated Airlines Group.

On July 5, Turkish Airlines said the United States had lifted its in-cabin ban on electronic devices on US-bound flights from Istanbul.

In March the United States imposed the ban on direct flights originating at 10 airports in eight countries -- Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey -- to address fears that bombs could be concealed in electronic devices taken aboard aircraft.

Britain soon followed suit with a similar ban.</s>DALLAS -- The ban on laptops in the cabins of planes flying from the Middle East to the U.S. is over, federal officials said Thursday as large airports in the region have taken other steps to increase security.

Those measures include checking electronic devices to make sure they don't contain a bomb, and pulling more people out of airport lines for additional screening.

A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday that all airlines and airports with flights departing for the U.S. had met the agency's first phase of new security measures, which were announced in late June but not described in any detail.

No airlines are under restrictions for large personal electronic devices anywhere in the world because each has implemented additional security measures that ultimately make the global aviation community more secure, CBS News transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave reports.

Officials released a statement to CBS News saying communication between the DHS and Transportation Security Agency led to the increase in airline safety.

"The quick and decisive action taken by airlines, nations, and stakeholders are a testament to our shared commitment to raising the bar on global aviation security. Airlines were able to implement the necessary enhanced security measures because of the close coordination and extensive communication between aviation partners and DHS/TSA," the statement read. "As we continue to secure global aviation in the coming weeks and months, this communication and partnership between the private sector and the U.S. government will be imperative."

In March, the U.S. imposed a ban on laptops in the cabins of planes coming into the country from 10 Middle Eastern airports. This week, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was the last of the 10 to comply with U.S. security measures and exit the laptop-ban list.

Electronics ban on U.S.-Saudi Arabia flights lifted

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said the laptop ban was a "pause," a stopgap measure until airports could make other security improvements. It grew from fear that terrorists were working on bombs that can be hidden in devices such as laptop and tablet computers.

"We tested it on a real airplane on the ground, pressurized (as an airliner is during flight), and to say the least it destroyed the airplane," Kelly said Wednesday at a security conference in Colorado. He added that intelligence reports indicated terrorists lacked the ability to detonate such a bomb remotely -- meaning they couldn't trigger a bomb in the cargo hold while sitting in the cabin.

Some safety experts cautioned, however, that putting devices with lithium ion batteries that are prone to overheating in cargo increased the risk of fire.

More terrorists gaining knowledge to build laptop bomb, source says

Now the Federal Aviation Administration is telling airlines that that devices with lithium batteries should be put in carry-on baggage and not placed in checked luggage -- the advice that existed before the March order covering large electronics devices in the cabin.

Kelly said most of the new security measures will not be visible to passengers. He said, however, that there will be additional testing of devices -- to make sure they are working computers and not a disguised bomb -- and more people will be pulled aside for extra screening. He did not say how agents will decide who gets pulled aside.</s>ANKARA, July 20 (Reuters) - Britain has told Turkish authorities it will lift the ban on electronics in aircraft cabins in flights from Turkey, Turkish diplomatic sources told Reuters on Thursday.

The sources said that Alan Duncan, Britain's minister for Europe and Foreign Minister Boris Johnson both called Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to tell him the ban was being lifted.

However, there was no immediate confirmation from British officials.

"The safety and security of the travelling public is our top priority. We keep our aviation security measures under constant review, but we do not comment on speculation or leaks," a spokesman for Britain's Department for Transport said.

Major airlines flying from Turkey to Britain include Turkish Airlines and British Airways, which is owned by International Consolidated Airlines Group.

On July 5, Turkish Airlines said the United States had lifted its in-cabin ban on electronic devices on U.S.-bound flights from Istanbul.

In March the United States imposed the ban on direct flights originating at 10 airports in eight countries -- Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey -- to address fears that bombs could be concealed in electronic devices taken aboard aircraft.

Britain soon followed suit with a similar ban. (Reporting by Orhan Coskun in Ankara; Additional reporting by Kylie MacLellan in London; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Daren Butler)</s>Ankara: The UK will lift restrictions on large electronic devices being carried as cabin luggage on direct flights from Turkey, officials said here on Thursday.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told state-run Anadolu news agency that British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson had phoned his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu over the issue.

The source said Johnson told Cavusoglu the UK authorities had decided to lift the ban, adding that the process to lift the restrictions was ongoing.

A ban on carrying such devices aboard US-bound passenger aircraft was ended for Turkish Airlines flights from Istanbul earlier this month.

The US had banned devices from 10 airports in eight Muslim-majority countries while the UK had banned them on all direct flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Tunisia in March.</s>United States lifts laptop and electronics ban from Middle East flights Developers and games firms from the region now able to bring the equipment they need into US

The United States government has lifted the restrictions imposed earlier this year preventing passengers from packing laptops, games consoles or other electronics into their hand luggage.

The controversial ban was targeted specifically at people travelling from ten Middle East airports or using nine airlines from that area. While it affected professionals in all kinds of industries, it has proven to be particularly troublesome for game developers and publishers, who need to be able to transport equipment for demonstration purposes - most notably for E3 2017 last month.

TechCrunch reports the US lifted the ban for three major airlines earlier this month and has now removed the restrictions entirely. The Department of Homeland Security has now declared itself satisfied "with enhanced security measures in place".

The ban was originally introduced on the grounds of increasing national security, based on the administration's evaluation of the potential for terrorist threats from the Middle East. A, similar and perhaps more controversial, ban was imposed on all persons travelling from seven predominantly Muslim countries earlier this year.

This affected several developers heading for GDC 2017, with the conference's organisers offering to refund those who were prevented from attending. Unity, meanwhile, promised to fly 50 affected developers to its Unite Europe conference in June - GamesIndustry.bizspoke to some of these creators during the event.

TechCrunch notes that a similar laptop ban instigated by the UK on direct flights from the Middle East and North Africa still stands.</s>Controversial ban preventing Middle Eastern passengers carrying their laptops on flights to the US officially ends

The United States has ended a four-month ban on passengers from certain Middle Eastern and North African countries, from taking their devices onto flights to America.

Under the leadership of the Trump administration, the US in March had banned the carrying of laptops in aircraft cabins on flights from eight predominately Muslim nations, due to security concerns.

However the US had stopped short of banning laptops on all flights to America, much to the relief of passengers from European countries travelling to the US.

The US ban on laptops from certain countries had stemmed from previous concerns over bombs being carried in laptops.

That concern had required people to turn on their laptops if requested by airport personnel, in order to prove the battery pack had not been replaced with explosives.

But the US decision to end the laptop ban altogether came after officials from the US department of homeland security (DHS) confirmed in a Tweet that King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) was the last of 10 airports to have the ban lifted.

The DHS also lifted the ban on nine airlines including Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Kuwait Airways, EgyptAir and Royal Air Maroc.

Those were apparently the only airlines to fly direct flights to the United States. DHS officials had apparently visited 10 airports in Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey to confirm new security measures were being implemented, before they decided to lift the ban.

These new security measures include enhanced passenger screening at foreign airports, increased security protocols around aircraft and in passenger areas, and more checks by sniffer dogs.

And airlines that fail to comply could face electronics restrictions.

However it should be noted that a travel ban on citizens from six Muslim-majority countries – Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen – remains in place. Although this ban is currently hampered because of various court proceedings in the US.

Meanwhile it worth noting that the United Kingdom continues its ban on in-cabin electronics on flights from a number of Middle Eastern airports including Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

That said, there are reports in the Turkish media that British authorities will soon lift the ban on flights from Turkey.

Carrying electronics on airlines has become a touchy subject in recent times.

Travel safety experts for example have long argued that rules that forced laptops to be placed in plane holds could cause its own safety issues, since lithium battery fires would be difficult to extinguish there.

Earlier this year United Airlines and Delta Airlines both banned the bulk shipping of lithium-ion batteries over safety concerns.

Quiz: What do you know about the new US President Donald Trump and his relationship with technology?</s>LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) – Beginning Wednesday, passengers on all direct flights coming into the United States from Mexico can expect more stringent electronics screening at Mexican airports.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security informed the Mexican Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that extra security screenings will be required for large electronic devices, such as laptops and tablets.

Passengers traveling to the U.S. should arrive at the airport three hours before their flight due to the extra security procedures, the DGCA said.

While the devices aren’t banned, if possible, the DGCA advises travelers to check any electronics larger than a phone in order to save time getting through security.

In March, the Transportation Security Administration issued a laptop ban on passengers coming into the U.S. on nonstop flights from 10 airports in eight Middle Eastern and North African countries. Under the ban, passengers cannot have any electronics bigger than a phone in their carry-on luggage.

The affected countries are Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.

The ban is due to the threat of terrorists smuggling explosives into such electronic devices.</s>The United States has ended a four-month ban on passengers carrying laptops onboard US-bound flights from certain airports in the Middle East and North Africa, bringing to an end one of the controversial travel restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration.

Riyadh’s King Khalid international airport was the last of 10 airports to be exempted from the ban, the US department of homeland security (DHS) confirmed in a tweet late on Wednesday local time.

Middle East carriers have blamed Trump’s travel restrictions, which include banning citizens of some Muslim-majority countries from visiting the United States, for a downturn in demand on US routes.

In March, the United States banned large electronics in cabins on flights from 10 airports in the Middle East and North Africa over concerns that explosives could be concealed in the devices taken onboard aircraft.

The ban has been lifted on the nine airlines affected – Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Royal Jordanian , Kuwait Airways, EgyptAir and Royal Air Maroc – which are the only carriers to fly direct to the US from the region.

A ban on citizens of six Muslim-majority countries – Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, – remains in place, though has been limited after several US court hearings challenged the restrictions.

“The aviation industry has been trying to come together with a united message to governments and stakeholders about regulation and supporting the industry,” said Will Horton, senior analyst at Australian aviation consultancy CAPA.

“That was dealt a first blow from the travel ban and then a second from the large electronics ban.“

Leading industry group the International Air Transport Association (IATA) criticised the laptop ban as ineffective, as security experts argued that militants could travel to the US via Europe or elsewhere where the restrictions did not apply.

US officials lifted the ban after visiting the 10 airports in Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey over the past three weeks to confirm new security measures announced last month were being implemented.

On Thursday, the US issued a revised directive to airlines around the world in response to requests that it clarify aviation security measures scheduled to start taking effect this week.

The new requirements include enhanced passenger screening at foreign airports, increased security protocols around aircraft and in passenger areas and expanded canine screening. They affect 325,000 airline passengers on about 2,000 commercial flights arriving daily in the US, on 180 airlines from 280 airports in 105 countries.

Airlines that fail to meet the new security requirements could face in-cabin electronics restrictions.

The United Kingdom continues to enforce a similar in-cabin ban on electronics ban on flights from some Middle Eastern airports. Those restrictions apply to flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.</s>On March 21, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a mandate that forced people flying into the U.S. on direct flights from 10 airports in Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to check electronic devices larger than a phone before boarding their flights.

On Wednesday (July 21), DHS spokesman David Lapan tweeted that the restriction on portable electronic devices (PED) on flights from the Middle East has been lifted.

NPR reports that all airlines that fly directly into the U.S. from international locations are now charged with implementing a new set of security measures. Lapan tweeted about that, too, writing yesterday (July 20) that, “As of midnight, all 180 airlines & 280+ LPD airports around the world have implemented 1st phase of enhanced aviation security measures.” LPD stands for “last point of departure,” which are international airports that feature flights that enter the U.S.

Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly released details on the new measures during a speech at the Center for a New American Security conference on June 28. From the published transcript of his delivered remarks:

Today, I am announcing a first step toward this goal by requiring new security measures to be applied to all commercial flights coming into the United States from abroad. These measures will be both seen and unseen, and they will be phased in over time. They will include enhanced screening of electronic devices, more thorough passenger vetting and new measures designed to mitigate the potential threat of insider attacks.

We will also lay out a clear path to encourage airlines and airports to adopt more sophisticated screening approaches, including better use of explosive detection canines and advanced checkpoint screening technology. Additionally, we will encourage more airports to become pre-clearance locations. This not only enhances security, it also increases convenience by allowing international travelers to go through customs and border security screening before boarding flights to the United States. With this announcement, we send a clear message that inaction is not an option. Those who choose not to cooperate or are slow to adopt these measures could be subject to other restrictions—including a ban on electronic devices on aircraft, or even a suspension of their flights to the United States.</s>ANKARA, July 20 (Reuters) - Britain has told Turkish authorities it will lift the ban on electronics in aircraft cabins in flights from Turkey, the state run Anadolu news agency said on Thursday, citing diplomatic sources.

The sources said that Alan Duncan, Britain's minister for Europe and Foreign Minister Boris Johnson both called Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to tell him the ban was being lifted, Anadolu reported.

Major airlines flying from Turkey to Britain include Turkish Airlines and British Airways, which is owned by International Consolidated Airlines Group (Reporting by Orhan Coskun; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Daren Butler)
Citing improved airport security, U.S. officials lift the ban on electronics on certain flights to some Middle Eastern countries.