President Donald Trump's government plans to ban certain electronic devices inside plane cabins on routes to the U.S. from at least eight Muslim-majority countries, according to media reports.
Laptops and other electronic devices larger than a mobile phone will no longer be permitted as carry-on luggage on flights from these countries. Exceptions will be made for medical devices. Individuals will still be able to bring laptops and other large electronic devices in their checked luggage.
NPR reported that eight Middle East and North African countries would be affected by the ban. Fox News reported that the ban would effect 13 international airports. But the AP said the ban would effect 10 international airports. The U.S. government is expected to officially announce the ban on Tuesday.
Royal Jordanian Airlines actually broke the news through a tweet, which was later deleted by the airline. The airline tweeted a follow-up that said: "Further updates will be announced soon regarding electronics ban."
In the original announcement, it said the ban would take effect on March 21.
A U.S. government official told AP that the ban would affect passengers traveling from Cairo, Amman, Kuwait City, Casablanca, Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Reuters reported that U.S. citizens traveling to their country from these cities would not be subject to the ban.
Needless to say, a lot of Arab travelers are quite annoyed by the ban
It affects the way travelers plan
It's time to go old school
A sarcastic comment
Pointing out the terrible irony
And of course, a joke
Because it's getting seriously ridiculous
Some feel their world is getting smaller
The electronics ban comes in the wake of President Donald Trump's attempts to block immigrants and refugees from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. Thus far, his executive orders >have been blocked by federal courts.