Dear European airlines, it’s time to start planning your creative response to a US inflight electronics ban, because apparently it’s coming your way.
The Department of Homeland Security is allegedly looking at expanding the controversial ban beyond the Middle East and into Europe, with a spokesperson saying it’s “likely” to happen.
If implemented, the ban would prevent passengers flying from European ports into the US from packing electronic devices larger than a mobile phone in their carry-on. This includes laptops, tablets and DVD players.
A spokesperson for the cabinet told media that the extension was still being considered, but could very well happen.
“We’ll likely expand the restrictions”.
The Department of Homeland Security Spokesperson
The proposal to keep electronics out of the main cabin comes less two months after the ruling was applied on services to the US from 10 Middle Eastern and African cities.
Since March, airlines operating from Cairo, Istanbul, Kuwait City, Doha, Casablanca, Amman, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi have reinforced the US ban, while implementing new, creative ways to ensure their guests remain entertained in the air.
Qatar Airways found a way around the ban by introducing ‘laptop loans’ whereby Business Class passengers can request complimentary laptops for the duration of their US-bound flight, while Etihad offers its guests iPads and free onboard Wi-Fi.
Royal Jordanian Airlines went beyond satisfying customers in the sky by using social media to launch a creative campaign mocking the US electronics ban, which included a poem on extra baggage allowance and a cheeky list of ’12 things to do on a 12-hour flight with no laptop or tablet’. Check it out here.
Can’t wait to see what European airlines come up with.
It will also be interesting to see if the ban will be applied to US-based airlines operating services to and from Europe.