Whether the UK applies it as well or not doesn't make it any less inconsistent.

To try to differentiate between the threat posed by incendiary/explosive devices in the cabin and the same threat in the hold is ridiculous.

EK/EY/QR/TK

I'd take a liOn fire in the hold vs a charge of high explosive. Look to Metrojet to see what a charge the size of a drinks can can do to A321 and there's not a thing that can be done once it goes pop. It's not an incendiary device that's the worry. A few pounds of huge explosive and it's game over for everyone onboard.

Err no. it depends how the device is activated.

I wonder if we will go back to proving a device is workable. I recall even flying to the Scottish isles having to prove that my phone could switch on and wasn't just a dummy. I've not seen that done for 20 year.

Is there something different about these airlines and their procedures? I believe they use the same terminals and secure zone as US/EU airlines. I'd have thought US/EU airlines would be a much worthwhile target assuming the risk is from ISIS, their subsidiaries, franchises or affiliates.

I've seen that done at one of either Innsbruck or Saltzberg only a couple of years ago
If if would not switch/the battery was flat it was confiscated and would be returned to you later presumably with a bill to pay prior.
The checking was random rather than 100%.

I was only a young un' at the time but this was at the time of the troubles. Still they were doing it to everyone. I suppose my brick phone could have done some damage given the size of it. I do recall some anxiety as to what happened if it didn't switch on.

I'm not sure how the public will react. I reminded myself the other day why I hate flying as a passenger and it's the cretins you must share the metal tube with. It must be a decade since the liquid bomb plot. The rules have been in place for a decade, yet still people argue about having a little bottle of bubble bath taken off them.

For those reading this as underlying commercial antagonism we now have a UK broadsheet and a tabloid suggesting it is coming soon to the UK.

Security based and been under discussion for a couple of weeks now. The ME3 may not be popular west side of the pond but it's beginning to look like the posited attack on them might in fact just be collateral damage.

If these reports are true they will add greatly to the economic effects facing many airlines.

Rob

Proving a laptop is function is something they have been doing on departure (at least on BA flights to LHR) from Dubai for a few years at least (this check is done at the boarding gate)

Even if there is something more to it, would they not just work around this?

Surely someone that is able to board a US bound flight from DOH or DXB, who has a US visa, can obtain a Schengen visa and do the same from Madrid or Frankfurt, or connect via any number of other airports? How could a plot like this be solely limited to particular origin airports?

UK flight ban on electronic devices announced - BBC News

My how No.10 loves Trumpo.

Yes, it's all part of the Trumpster's plan to take over Britain. It's just to protect BA & the US3 from these pesky Middle East airlines providing a better service at a lower cost.

We all know it's silly because Muslim countries are as safe as houses. It's the nasty right wingers and their iPad Pros we need to worry about the next MetroJet or Daalo Airlines incident.

tlott - Sharm, its failure to maintain standards and being in a very unsafe part of the world conspired to end in disaster helped along by local supporters. Perhaps these places have more sympathisers to the cause?

We digress. According to SKY, English airlines are to implement similar controls but no specifics were mentioned when the news broke. I suppose we will have to wait for Trump to tell us what to do?

Lap top and tablet ban
 

Britain will follow the US and bar passengers from taking laptops and tablets on UK-bound flights from six Middle Eastern countries.
Theresa May, the Prime Minister, announced that passengers will be barred from taking laptops into flights from Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
The move will affect in-bound passengers from those countries on flights by UK carriers including British Airways, Easyjet, Jet 2, Monarch, Thomas Cook and Thomson flights.
It will also affect those flying with foreign carriers including Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, Atlas Global, Egypt Air, Tunisair, Royal Jordanian and Saudia. Airlines which fail to meet the requirements will be barred from flying to the UK, including Kindle and other e-readers.
Passengers will be barred from taking on board devices that are "larger than a normal sized mobile or smart phone", equivalent to 16cm long, 9.3cm wide and 1.5cm deep. These devices will have to be placed in the hold.
Airlines will be given a "few days" to adjust to the new regulations, and Downing Street acknowledged that the measure would cause disruption for passengers.
However the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said: “The additional security measures may cause some disruption for passengers and flights, and we understand the frustration that will cause, but our top priority will always be to maintain the safety of British nationals."

Reply
 

OK I stand to be corrected, but in the absence of a clear and present threat, I concur with your comments. If the existence of a perceived threat becomes public; then the proposed actions will be accepted otherwise the proposed actions will be perceived as neither "Justified or Proportionate".

UK follows suit, but countries don't match.

UK: Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

What happened to Kuwait and the UAE?

Does anyone have an idea, or a good guess, how they are going to deal with connecting passengers? Seems counterproductive to have them put their forbidden fruit in their bags, when they have been checked through. OTOH, it doesn't seem intuitive to put all the confiscated li-io all together in a single container.

O.K, just a plot to bring down TK ;)
UAE and Kuwait might be some political reasons. Who knows....

A couple of quick comments:

Bloomberg has a quote from the top Democrat on the House Intelligence committee who says he has seen the intel and thinks the ban is both “both necessary and proportional.” https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/a...-force-changes

Britain is following suit (partially). Curious the omissions of UAE and Qatar...hmmm...maybe someone thought they could sneak a little retaliation in the US ban?

AUH is especially curious to me given that US-bound passengers go through pre-clearance before boarding.

No US airlines are targeted because no US airlines fly to the affected countries. United and Delta used to fly to the Middle East and Dubai, respectively, but those services have ended. As have Istanbul flights.

I imagine if the UK is following suit, this is likely based on intelligence.

However, if one were a terrorist and really wanted to get an explosive device disguised as a laptop or tablet on an aircraft, would one not simply use an airline or destination that wasn't on the banned list now?

I remain skeptical about why this isn't more of a blanket ban but obviously Joe Public are not privvy to all the info so there may well be a good reason.

Because they're more likely to spot it before it gets on the plane?