New Carry-On Luggage Restrictions for Electronic Devices on Some Middle East to U.S. Flights

As an added security measure to prevent terrorist attacks, the US has implemented new carry-on restrictions for electronic devices in flights from a number of airlines and airports.

Starting Tuesday March 21st at [07:00] GMT, a number of airlines from the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey with routes travelling into the US will have a new set of regulations. With the exception of medical equipment, all electronic devices larger than a mobile phone will not be allowed inside the cabin and will need to be checked.

Unfortunately, this is a measure is necessary to prevent other commercial aviation terror attacks and the increasingly “innovative methods” terrorists will go to to carry out their plans.

Here is the list of affected airlines:

• Royal Jordanian
• Egypt Air
• Turkish Airlines
• Saudi Arabian Airlines
• Kuwait Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Qatar Airways
• Emirates
• Etihad Airways

And these are the affected airports:

• Queen Alia International, Amman, Jordan
• Cairo International Airport, Egypt
• Ataturk Airport, Istanbul, Turkey
• King Abdulaziz International, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• King Khalid International, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Kuwait International Airport
• Mohammed V International, Casablanca, Morocco
• Hamad International, Doha, Qatar
• Dubai International, United Arab Emirates
• Abu Dhabi International, United Arab Emirates

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Undoubtedly this affects the comfort of all passengers traveling into the United States, as not even laptops or tablets will be allowed in the cabin. This also poses new challenges to our industry in particular, as more checked luggage translates into higher costs. Please remember if you are part of a film crew or a photographer travelling with one of these airlines in or out of the affected airports, you will have to check all your valuable electronic equipment, drone equipment, remotes and batteries.

While there is no indication that these restrictions will lift anytime soon. On the plus side,there will be a little more room in your carry-on luggage to store those spare lithium ion batteries! (Remember, spare batteries are not allowed in the hold.) You can only check lithium ion batteries if they are installed in a device.

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