Saudi Airlines passengers can carry their laptops on US-bound flights now

MENA

Published: 2017-07-18 12:27

Last Updated: 2024-04-19 00:18


US government officials will visit King Abdulaziz International Airport later this week.
US government officials will visit King Abdulaziz International Airport later this week.

The laptop ban has been lifted on Saudi Airlines, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said on Monday.

A TSA spokesman said that Saudi Arabian Airlines’ main hub in Jeddah at King Abdulaziz International Airport has met the new US security requirements, which means that carrying laptops and large electronics is now legal onboard US-bound flights.

US government officials will visit the airport “later this week to confirm compliance there as well,” spokesman James Gregory said.

The new security requirements include enhanced passenger screening at foreign airports, increased security protocols around aircraft and in passenger areas and expanded canine screening.

Some 325,000 airline passengers on about 2,000 commercial flights arriving daily in the United States, on 180 airlines from 280 airports in 105 countries will be affected by the new security measures.

In March, US officials imposed the ban on several Muslim countries. The ban was put in place to address the potential threat of hidden explosives.

Since then, the ban has been lifted on Royal Jordanian Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways and other airlines.