All You Need to know: UK/US Electronics Ban on Flights and How It Affects Nigerians

By Mariam Banwo Barry

In a bid to keep travellers informed, Jumia Travel has curated some useful information on what you need to know about the new security rule on United States and United Kingdom bound Flights.

According to a new travel directive, from no later than the 25th of March 2017, passengers on United States and the United Kingdom bound flights from certain airports in the Middle East and North Africa will not be allowed to carry electronic devices larger than a cell phone or smart phone in carry-on luggage or property within reach.

Both governments seek to intensify security procedures for passengers in order to better protect them as well as their citizens by placing new checks at the last point of departure before entering the United States and the United Kingdom.

For UK bound flights, the United Kingdom government has provided maximum dimensions for electronic devices permitted in carry-on luggage (length: 16.0cm, width: 9.3cm, depth: 1.5cm).

Electronic devices that exceed the stipulated size limits will need to be secured in checked luggage.

What Led to the New Security Rule on United States and United Kingdom Bound Flights?

The Travel tech policy was put in place to enhance Aviation Security for Select Last Point of Departure Airports with Commercial Flights to the United States. Restriction on electronic gadgets, is an action taken based on the US Government’s concern over threats of terrorism targeting commercial aviation and various transportation hubs as evident in past security issues such as the  2015 airliner downing in Egypt, the 2016 attempted airliner downing in Somalia and the 2016 armed attacks against airports in Brussels and Istanbul.

According to a statement released by the Department of Homeland Security in the United States, “terrorist groups continue to target commercial aviation and are pursuing innovative methods to undertake their attacks, including smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items.”

What Airports are Affected by the new Travel Security Rules on US bound flights?

The US aviation security enhancements will apply to inbound flights from the following airports:

·         Cairo International Airport (CAI)

·         Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)

·         Ataturk International Airport (IST)

·         Dubai International Airport (DXB)

·         Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)

·         King Abdul-Aziz International Airport (JED)

·         King Khalid International Airport (RUH)

·         Hamad International Airport (DOH)

·         Kuwait International Airport (KWI)

·         Mohammed V Airport (CMN)

What are the Airlines Affected by the New Travel Security Rules on US Bound Flights?

The nine airlines affected by the US aviation security enhancement rule are:

• ·         Royal Jordanian
• ·         Egypt Air
• ·         Turkish Airlines
• ·         Saudi Arabian Airlines
• ·         Kuwait Airways
• ·         Royal Air Maroc
• ·         Qatar Airways
• ·         Emirates
• ·         Etihad Airway.

Exception to the new travel security rule: US officials confirmed that no American carriers will be affected by the ban. Passengers on American airlines such as Virgin Atlantic Airlines and Delta Airlines would also be allowed to carry larger devices in their checked luggage.

What are the countries Affected by the New Travel Security Rules on UK Bound Flights?

The UK security enhancements will apply to inbound flights from the following countries:

• ·         Turkey
• ·         Lebanon
• ·         Egypt
• ·         Saudi Arabia
• ·         Jordan
• ·         Tunisia

What are the Airlines Affected by the New Travel Security Rules on UK bound Flights?

The fourteen airlines affected by the UK ban are;

• ·         British Airways
• ·         EasyJet
• ·         Jet2.com
• ·         Monarch
• ·         Thomas Cook
• ·         Thomson
• ·         Turkish Airlines
• ·         Pegasus Airways
• ·         Atlas-Global Airlines
• ·         Middle East Airlines
• ·         Egyptair
• ·         Royal Jordanian
• ·         Tunis Air
• ·         Saudi Arabian Airlines

How the New Security Rule on United States and United Kingdom Bound Flight will Affect Nigerians?

The two major classes of Nigerian passengers who will be affected include; those that have stopovers at one of the listed airports or those flying one of the listed airlines during their flights to US or UK.

For the purpose of clarity, let say you are flying from Lagos to London through Turkish Airline with a layover at Istanbul, you will need to check-in any of your electronic devices which is larger than a smartphone. It is highly advisable that Nigerian passengers intending to use any of the banned gadgets in the destination country, have it checked in with their luggage from Lagos so as to avoid any issues when boarding their connecting flights.

Travellers to the United States and the United Kingdom, especially those on flights originating from the Middle East or North Africa are advised to contact their airline directly to ascertain whether any restrictions on the carriage of electronic devices apply on their flight to the United States or the United Kingdom.