The UK and US have abruptly issued a ban on cameras, laptops, tablets and other portable electronic devices in carry-on luggage, effective immediately, for 9 airlines flying out of ten specific airports. According to US officials, the restrictions are based on intelligence that terrorists are trying to smuggle explosives in portable electronic devices. The ruling is expected to last until mid-October 2017.
The ban came based on information collected during a US commando raid in Yemen that revealed details about turning consumer electronics devices into bombs, according to Frequent Business Traveler. Since the devices would need to be triggered manually, authorities mandated putting all electronics devices in checked in luggage.
This ban forces photographers flying from the airlines and airports (listed below) to stow their gear in their check-in baggage, where there is a chance the equipment could be stolen or broken due to brutal treatment of check-in bags by airport personnel (see video, below). Photographers who must travel by air may want to re-book their flights with airlines which are not subject to the ban. Alternatively, they may want to buy a lockable, protected case such as the SKB iSeries Injection Molded Waterproof Case I for DSLR Cameras and Accessories.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C-e96m4730
The airlines are: Egyptair, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Royal Air Maroc, Emirates, Royal Jordanian, Turkish Airlines, Etihad Airways, and Kuwait Airways.
The ban specifically affects flights from Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), Cairo International Airport (CAI), Ataturk International Airport (IST), King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED), King Khalid International Airport (RUH), Kuwait International Airport (KWI), Mohammed V International Airport (CMN), Hamad International Airport (DOH), Dubai International Airport (DXB), and Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH).
