Yesterday, May 30, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement (http://bit.ly/2sexo9A) after a conference call with European Home Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos and Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc to discuss aviation security. The statement concluded that the Department of Homeland Security was not going to expand the ban on large electronic devices on flights to the U.S. from Europe. However, Secretary Kelly emphasized that the expansion of the ban is “still on the table” and that the DHS will expand the ban “if the intelligence and threat level warrant it.”
Currently, large electronics are banned on flights to the United States from 10 specific airports located primarily in the Middle East: The affected overseas airports are: Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), Cairo International Airport (CAI), Ataturk International Airport (IST), King Abdul-Aziz International Airport (JED), King Khalid International Airport (RUH), Kuwait International Airport (KWI), Mohammed V Airport (CMN), Hamad International Airport (DOH), Dubai International Airport (DXB), and Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH). Yesterday’s statement does not affect the ban currently in place.
In addition to the announcement that the ban would not be expanded, DHS also indicated in its statement that the European Ministers they agreed on the need to “raise the bar for aviation security globally,” including “through a range of potential seen and unseen enhancements.” In addition, there was agreement that the U.S. and Europe would “continue to work together to secure global aviation and to maintain clear lines of communication and cooperation.”
Aviation and Airport Development News 