David Lapan, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, told a media briefing in the US yesterday (June 13) that although specific security enhancements would not be disclosed, American and European officials were “in the way of information sharing, passenger information, detection types of steps.”

According to Reuters, a European airline industry source said officials attending the meeting in Malta would be discussing “enhancements including explosive trace detection screening, increased vetting of airports’ staff and additional detection dogs."

The US laptop ban came into effect in March with electronic devices larger than a smartphone banned from the cabin on flights from airports in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey over terrorism concerns with Britain imposing similar restrictions soon after.

Department of Homeland Security secretary John Kelly said last week that the US was considering expanding its ban to flights from 71 airports located in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, although Lapan confirmed to reporters that no decision on widening the ban was expected this week.

He also revealed that talks had taken place with airlines and airport officials, and said it “remained to be seen” if the discussions from the planned meeting this week would result in the reversal of the current ban.