The current ban on electronic items in cabin baggage which affects flights to the US from eight countries won’t be extended to include services operating from Europe. The decision follows a four-hour meeting between EU and US officials to discuss threats to aviation security which took place in Brussels on May 17.
Previously, the US authorities had stated that they might extend the existing electronics in the cabin ban to cover flights between Europe and the US. This led to EU officials requesting a meeting with their US counterparts.
Although no specific threat details have been made public, the existing ban on electronic devices larger than a smartphone is believed to stem from terror groups’ attempts to disguise an explosive device within electronic items.
Though a move to extend the laptop ban to European flights was rejected, officials said that “other [security] measures” were still being considered.