“S eems like the conclusion is no ban but other changes may occur (I can assume we will see more aggressive gate screening of electronics)” is what FlyerTalk member NickP 1K posted — along with a link to this article from BBC News.
No Expansion of Restrictions on Electronics to Include Europe — For Now
“US and EU officials have decided against a ban on laptops and tablets in cabin baggage on flights from Europe”, according to the aforementioned article. “But after a four-hour meeting in Brussels to discuss the threats to aviation security, officials said other measures were still being considered.”
Among some of the other relevant topics is the “greater risk of lithium battery fires if larger devices were kept in an aircraft’s hold” and that “the measure was introduced over fears a bomb could be concealed in a device.”
Similar restrictions on electronics are currently in effect on approximately 50 flights to the United States from ten airports in Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. There is no word or sign that the restrictions will be relaxed or lifted anytime soon.
Summary
This is great news, as far as I am concerned — if the information in the article is accurate. The costs could have potentially led to an “economic tsunami” and loss of productivity.
Although I could use a mobile portable electronic device to photograph what I see when I travel via airplane, I prefer to take my trusty digital single-lens reflex camera with lenses. I also need a laptop computer or similar device with a keyboard to write articles for The Gate while I travel…
…but it seems that the door is still open to revisit the topic in the future — but I am not going to be concerned about that for now…
…and no — I am not afraid to fly as a passenger aboard an airplane for a transatlantic flight.
Photograph ©2014 by Brian Cohen.
