*Update* On July 5, 2017, the U.S. government lifted the electronics ban (on devices larger than smartphones in the main passenger cabin) on flights to the U.S. from Dubai and Istanbul after airlines in those countries implemented additional security measures. Last week DHS lifted the ban for flights from Abu Dhabi for the same reason. A separate electronics ban on flights from Turkey to the U.K. still remains in effect.

 

On March 21, 2017, the U.S. government imposed restrictions on travelers and prohibited passengers from carrying laptops, tablets and other electronic devices (such as e-readers, cameras, portable DVD players, and travel printers, among other items) in the cabin on direct flights from the following 10 international airports: Abu Dhabi International Airport, UAE; Ataturk International Airport, Istanbul, Turkey; Cairo International Airport, Cairo, Egypt; Dubai International Airport, UAE; Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar; King Abdul-Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Kuwait International Airport, Kuwait City, Kuwait; Mohammed V Airport, Casablanca, Morocco; and Queen Alia International Airport, Amman, Jordan.

These restrictions apply to ALL passengers on the flight, including U.S. citizens. The restricted items can be packed in checked baggage, if otherwise permitted. Cell phones and smart phones are still currently permitted in the passenger cabin. The U.K. government similarly prohibited certain electronic devices from being carried into the passenger cabin on direct flights into the U.K. from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Turkey.

On May 11, an international news service reported that this electronic device ban might be expanded to include direct commercial flights from some European countries to the U.S., but nothing has been confirmed yet by the federal government.