The Department for Transport (DfT) announced on Friday (July 28) it had eased its restrictions on the use of large electronic devices on two Turkish carriers - Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines operating from Istanbul and Izmar.
Laptops remain banned on services from Istanbul to the UK on carriers such as British Airways and easyJet and from airports popular with British holidaymakers including Bodrum and Dalaman.
The DfT said that the restrictions, which would remain imposed on all UK-bound flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia and would be lifted “on a case-by-case basis” based on which airlines had put in place “alternative security measures”.
Transport secretary, Chris Grayling, said: “Having looked carefully at the changes introduced in March, and working with our international partners and the industry on tough additional security measures, we can now lift the ban on electronic devices in the cabin on a small number of UK-bound flights from Istanbul and Izmir.
“The remaining restrictions will be lifted only when we are satisfied it is safe and proportionate to do so.”
It follows a decision by US officials last week to end its own ban on laptops from ten mainly Muslim countries with the Department of Homeland Security imposing new security standards, including screening of passengers and equipment for traces of explosives.
An EasyJet spokesperson told The Times it expects to be able to lift the ban on all flights from Turkey this week including flights from Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman and Ismir.
In a statement, the airline said: “Easyjet can confirm that, following the updated advice from the UK government, it plans to lift the security restrictions on personal electronic devices (PEDs) and implement new additional security measures on its flights from Turkey during the course of next week.”
