Yahoo News British passengers could be banned from taking laptops on flights to the US
British air passengers could soon be included in a ban on carrying carrying laptops and other gadgets in hand luggage on flights to the US, it emerged last night.
Restrictions on devices larger than a mobile phone already apply to several mainly Muslim countries, but could be extended to transatlantic flights from the UK.
The dramatic escalation in the ban could signal that a worldwide ban on laptops, iPads and other devices in hand luggage could be imminent.
The move would affect millions of British holidaymakers and business travellers, forcing them to place devices like laptops, tablets and e-readers into their hold luggage.
Whitehall sources said the US had given the British Government notice of the extension to a policy introduced by President Donald Trump in response to intelligence about terrorists developing bombs that could be concealed in electronic devices.
The UK is said to be one of a number of countries being considered in an extension of the policy by the US Department of Homeland Security.
Laptop ban: advice for travellers
Last month the British government announced that laptops could no longer be carried as hand luggage in flights to the UK from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Tunisia.
The Home Secretary Amber Rudd has refused to rule out extending the laptop ban worldwide.
The measure marked the most significant restriction on air passengers since the Government banned liquids of moree than 100ml in hand baggage in 2006.
International airports affected by UK electronics ban
